US and China agree 'historic' climate change deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions
President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping met after the Apec summit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The US and China have announced ambitious new targets for curbing emissions at a meeting in Beijing, following urgent calls from the scientific community to tackle climate change.
Speaking at a press conference in the Chinese capital today, President Barack Obama described the deal as “historic”, setting the US the goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2025, compared to 2005 levels. The country’s previous goal was to cut its emissions by 17 per cent before 2020.
Chinese President Xi JinPing said China – now the world’s biggest polluter, by far – had not set a specific target, but would cap its emissions by 2030. Together, the two countries produce approximately 45 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. It is hoped that the surprise deal will encourage others to sign up to similar targets ahead of a global summit on climate change in Paris next year. “We agreed to make sure that international climate change negotiations will reach an agreement in Paris,” Mr Xi told reporters.
Mr Obama’s state visit to Beijing followed on from the major regional summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation (Apec). Before the summit, the Chinese authorities ordered factories to close and Beijing residents to drive their cars only every other day, in a bid to alleviate the city’s suffocating smog levels for the benefit of visiting world leaders.
The Asian giant’s carbon emissions are still rapidly increasing to meet the demands of its ballooning economy, but at today’s press conference Mr Xi also unveiled plans to ensure at least 20 per cent of the country’s energy comes from alternative sources by 2030. It is the first time China has set a date for capping its emissions.
“This is a major milestone in the US-China relationship and it shows what’s possible when we work together on an urgent challenge,” Mr Obama said, adding that the US would help to “slow, peak and then reverse the course of China’s carbon emissions.”
Though climate experts welcomed the news, the agreement was quickly criticised by Republicans in Washington, who have promised to reverse Mr Obama’s environmental agenda when they take control of both houses of Congress from January. The GOP’s incoming Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, said in a statement, “This unrealistic plan, that the president would dump on his successor, would ensure higher utility rates and far fewer jobs.”
The pact came after the close of the Apec summit, which saw leaders from 21 member nations including South Korea, Brunei and Chile converge on Beijing. Politicians attempted to put historic rivalries and current tensions aside as they focused on international trade.
Chinese censors went into overdrive to present a squeaky-clean image of the Government, beaming cheery pictures of the Chinese leader surrounded by delegates across the country.
But the perils of over-friendliness were demonstrated by Vladimir Putin, when footage of his apparently chivalrous gesture of draping a shawl around President Xi’s wife’s shoulders went viral on the Chinese version of Twitter.
Chinese news sites pulled the video within hours, according to Foreign Policy, and censors scrubbed it from Weibo in an apparent attempt to shut down any unflattering gossip.
Air pollution data also appeared to have been censored after weeks of efforts to temporarily combat Beijing’s notorious smog and analysts will be keeping a close eye on the Chinese Government's measures of progress in the US pact.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments