United States-China Cooperation

ChinaFAQs Expert Kelly Sims Gallagher has just published a new discussion paper entitled “Breaking the Climate Impasse with China: A Global Solution” in the Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements Discussion Paper Series.

Overview:
International climate negotiations are at an impasse because the world’s two largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, the United States and China, are unwilling to accept binding emission-reduction commitments. At the same time, each blames the other for its inaction. This paper proposes a global “deal” for breaking the deadlock in a way that reconciles both countries’ economic concerns with the imperative of reducing emissions. The deal has two core elements: (1) All major emitting countries agree to reduce GHG emissions by implementing significant, mutually agreeable, domestic policies and (2) The largest industrialized-country emitters agree to establish a global Carbon Mitigation Fund that would finance the incremental cost of adopting low-carbon technologies in developing countries.

Download the full paper at: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19698/breaking_the_climate_impasse_with_china.html.

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EPA_NRDC_MOU.pdf

Release date: 11/19/2009

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) have formalized a Memorandum of Cooperation to enhance capacity to address climate change. Signing the Memorandum were EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and NDRC Vice Chairman Xie Zhenhua.

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US-China_Fact_Sheet_Shale_Gas.pdf

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009

Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Shale Gas Resource Initiative. This Initiative will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy security and create commercial opportunities for U.S. companies through:

• Shale gas resource assessment: The Initiative will use experience gained in the United States to assess China’s shale gas potential and promote environmentally sustainable development of shale gas resources.
• Technical cooperation: Through the Initiative, the United States and China will conduct joint technical studies to support accelerated development of shale gas resources in China.
Investment promotion: The Initiative will promote shale gas investment in China through the U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum, study tours and workshops focused on shale gas development.

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US-China_Fact_Sheet_Coal.pdf

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009

Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao pledged to promote cooperation on cleaner uses of coal, including large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects. Through the new U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, the two countries are launching a program to bring teams of U.S. and Chinese scientists and engineers together in developing clean coal and CCS technologies. The two countries are also actively engaging industry, academia and civil society in advancing clean coal and CCS solutions.

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US-China_Fact_Sheet_Renewable_Energy.pdf

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009

Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Renewable Energy Partnership.. Both Presidents embraced a vision of wide-scale deployment of renewable energy including wind, solar and advanced bio-fuels, with a modern electric grid, and agreed to work together to make that vision possible. The two Presidents recognized that, given the combined market size of the U.S. and China, accelerated deployment of renewable energy in the two countries can significantly reduce the cost of these technologies globally.

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US-China_Fact_Sheet_Efficiency_Action_Plan.pdf

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009

Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan to strengthen the economy, improve energy security and combat climate change by reducing energy waste in both countries. The United States and China consume over 40 percent of global energy resources, costing businesses and households in the two countries roughly $1.5 trillion per year. Working together to improve energy efficiency in buildings, industry and consumer products, the United States and China can reduce spending on imported and highly polluting sources of energy and reinvest in new sources of economic growth and job creation.