China and US sign landmark climate change deal

China and the US, the two biggest carbon emitters in the world, have both signed a deal that will see them reduce emissions and help towards the fight against climate change. The deal will see eight new projects started by the China-US Climate Change Working Group, with help from research bodies and companies.

Projects will aim to reduce emissions and cut down on atmospheric greenhouse gases that contribute towards global warming. They include smart grids and carbon capture and storage. Both countries have also agreed to implement stricter fuel efficiency standards for road vehicles in an effort to reduce particulate pollution and other emissions.

Both the US and China have previously disagreed on what their contributions should be when it comes to tackling climate change. They have also been at odds over how the cost of schemes to reduce emissions should be spread across rich and poor countries. The nations needed to agree on these issues in order for the new agreement to successfully replace the Kyoto Protocol.

John Kerry, US secretary of State, said at the sixth US-China strategic and economic dialogue: “We are certainly not at a point where anybody is talking about concrete numbers. It is more, what is your process for developing a target, what sort of form you think your target is going to take. What are the policies that underpin the target you are going to develop?” 

The landmark deal was signed in Beijing by top official from both China and the US, ahead of a two-day visit to China. Among those present at the signing were Todd Stern, the lead US climate treaty negotiator at the US State Department, Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform commission (NDRC), Lee Zak, director of the US Trade and Development Agency, and John Podesta, Obama advisor. 

The new agreement will be beneficial for both nations as they will be able to share knowledge, research and technology, providing a greater range of options for air pollution reduction.