The United States and China, the two largest emitters of carbon emissions, have agreed that the Copenhagen climate change conference must include targets for reducing greenhouse gases, boosting sings of a successful outcome from the December meeting.

 

On the significance of the statement, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said 'The aim of Copenhagen continues to be to get a comprehensive and ambitious agreement. Today's affirmation from Presidents Obama and Hu that this is their ambition is very welcome and necessary.

'With less than three weeks to go before the talks start, we must strain every sinew for an agreement with maximum ambition, with immediate action on mitigation and finance and a clear trajectory to peak global emissions by 2020.'

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao said Copenhagen outcome should include emission reduction targets and actions and cover financing, adaptation, technology transfer and forests.

 

President Obama said that a deal on climate change should have 'immediate operational effect’ even if the formal treaty is not produced until next year.

 

In a joint statement issued after their bilateral meeting the leaders said: 'An agreed outcome at Copenhagen should, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, include emission reduction targets of developed countries and nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries.'

 

President Obama said that the two leaders had agreed that Copenhagen should lead to a political agreement. Speaking to the media after their meeting, President Obama said: 'Our aim [in Copenhagen] is not a partial accord or a political declaration, but rather an accord that covers all of the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect.'

 

President Hu said the two countries had agreed to work toward an accord in Copenhagen, while repeating Beijing's insistence on the different responsibilities rich and poor nations had in addressing climate change.

 

'We also agreed to act on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities and consistent with our respective capabilities to work with other parties concerned to help produce positive outcomes from the Copenhagen conference.'

 

Environmental groups said the comments from the US and China – which between them account for 40% of the world's emissions – had reaffirmed ambitions for the summit.

 

Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, said: 'Today's agreement by the US and China recognising that major progress on tackling climate change can still be made in Copenhagen is a positive development... both nations must now use their substantial political clout to make this happen.'

 

The two governments also signed agreements to co-operate in the field of low-carbon technology, including the establishment of a joint research centre and the promotion of cleaner coal power plants, green buildings and electric cars.

 

Denmark, host of the climate talks between December 7 and 18, welcomed Mr Obama’s comments and said it expected the US and all developed nations to promise firm emissions cuts and new cash to help the poor cope with global warming, even if no treaty text could be agreed.

 

Related links

U.S.-China Joint Statement, Embassy of the United States 17 November 2009

Obama and Hu aim to agree greenhouse gas targets, Guardian 17 November 2009

Obama: No more time to waste on climate pact, IOL 17 November 2009

Obama and Hu agree to aim for climate targets in Copenhagen, Friends of the Earth 17 November 2009