Statement of Bob Perciasepe
President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

September 25, 2015

On today’s U.S.-China joint statement on climate change:

The United States and China today advanced the global climate effort on two fronts – by committing to strengthen their national efforts to curb emissions, and by breaking ground on key elements of a new global accord.

In setting a start date for its national emissions trading system, China sends a powerful signal that market-based strategies will play a critical role in the transition to a low-carbon future. In the U.S., states have the opportunity to employ similar cost-effective approaches to cut emissions from power plants under the new Clean Power Plan.

Beyond their respective national efforts, the two leaders helped pave the way for a meaningful agreement in Paris by offering a shared vision for moving beyond the historic developed-developing country divide.

These new understandings can help deliver an agreement that ensures accountability and works to build ambition over time. And by committing $3 billion to help other developing countries, China is assuming shared responsibility for mobilizing critical climate finance.

Many issues remain and the United States and China cannot achieve a global accord alone. But the growing alignment of the world’s two largest economies and emitters bodes well for a successful outcome in Paris.

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Contact: Laura Rehrmann, rehrmannl@c2es.org or 703-516-0621

About C2ES: The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization promoting strong policy and action to address our climate and energy challenges. Learn more at www.c2es.org.