From Reuters:
The joint statement by the United States and China on climate change, issued on Wednesday, is more important for its political and diplomatic symbolism than any practical effect it might have in reducing emissions.
The statement reiterates policies China and the United States have been developing on their own and contains no new binding limits on greenhouse emissions.
Instead it is intended to "inject momentum into the global climate negotiations and inspire other countries to join in coming forward with ambitious actions as soon as possible" ahead of the next multilateral climate summit in Paris in 2015.
EXISTING PLANS
In the joint announcement, the United States gave its intention to cut economy-wide emissions 26-28 percent below the 2005 level by 2025.
The baseline, scale and timing of the reductions are essentially the same as those proposed in the Clean Power Plan, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in June.
In return, China announced that it intends to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions no later than 2030 and to increase the share of non-fossil fuels to around 20 percent of primary energy consumption.
China has a long-standing strategy to increase the share of zero-emission resources in national electricity generation at the expense of fossil fuels, especially coal.
China's government has been discussing an energy and climate strategy based on emissions peaking in either 2025 or 2030; the joint announcement opts for the later target, which is easier to achieve.
The joint announcement employs language very carefully. Throughout, the operative word is "intend" or "intention", which makes clear the statement is not meant to create any new obligations.
China's 2030 emissions target is set in terms of a date but says nothing about the level at which emissions will peak....MORE
