U.S. President Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping made the pledge during the November 11, 2014, talks in Beijing.
The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the possibility of military accidents in the air and sea and to make sure that international climate change negotiations reach an agreement in Paris in 2015, BBC reported. China and the U.S.A. together produce about 45 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide that contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer and hence climate change, BBC further said.
The two leaders held talks in Beijing China on Wednesday, November 11 during President Obama’s State visit that followed a major Asian regional summit he also attended. President Obama said the move was historic as he has set a new goal of reducing U.S. levels between 26 to 28 per cent by 2025, compared with 2005 levels. China, the world’s biggest polluter, on its part did not set a specific target but for the first time has set an approximate date for emissions to peak in 2030.
Its emissions trajectory is now similar to Europe and the U.S.A. The agreement by the two leaders came within the backdrop of efforts to secure a global deal on reducing emissions after 2020 to be finalized in Paris in 2015. “"We agreed to make sure that international climate change negotiations will reach an agreement in Paris," said Xi Jinping said, BBC reported.
President Obama called Wednesday's agreement "historic" and said the U.S. would work with China to "slow, peak and then reverse the course of China's carbon emissions." In a joint press conference in which they answered questions from pre-selected journalists, Mr Obama and Mr Xi drew attention to the ways in which the two global super powers could work together. They agreed to boost trade, investment and military co-operation to prevent the likelihood of military accidents. Reports say for years, the U.S. feared if it cut emissions, energy bills would rise and divert jobs to China.
