China-US joint statement on climate change draws applause

A joint statement on climate change issued Wednesday by China and the United States to limit greenhouse gas emissions has won praises worldwide, as it is seen by many as a great momentum toward reaching a global climate change agreement next year.

The joint announcement came after the presidents of the world's two largest economies met in Beijing, following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. [Special coverage]

According to the statement, the United States has set a target of reducing its emissions by 26 to 28 percent below its 2005 level in 2025, while China has pledged to achieve the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2030.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the statement, calling it "an important contribution" to a possible agreement at a UN climate conference in Paris in 2015.

Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that organizes UN climate talks, said the joint announcement signals "determination towards addressing the climate change challenge from a growing number of key economies."

"This positive momentum opens the door for all major economies and in particular all other industrialized nations to bring forward their contributions to the Paris agreement in a timely fashion over the coming months," she said in a statement.

Gina McCarthy, administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said the joint announcement is "a big leap forward" for the two countries, noting that the investment China is to make in renewables will be staggering.

"It's actually going to change the way in which that country delivers energy from that point forward," she said. "These are big steps forward. Are they the answer? No. Are they great commitments? Absolutely."

The joint announcement also came in the wake of a target set by the European Union (EU) last month on a legally binding reduction of CO2 emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030.

In a statement, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed the China-US statement and urged others, especially the G20 members, to announce their targets in the first half of 2015, so as to assess if the goal of keeping global temperature increases well below 2 degrees Celsius can be fulfilled.

Edward Davey, Britain's energy secretary, said the announcement is a clear sign that major economies are serious about getting a global deal in Paris next year.

"I'm looking forward to discussing with the US and China on how to achieve our shared goal of keeping the global temperature rise under 2 degrees, and avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change," he said.

Australian politicians also hailed the agreement, which they said put Australia under new pressure.

Bill Shorten, leader of the Australian Labor Party, said his party welcomed this "historic and ambitious" agreement.

"With China and the United States representing around one third of the global economy and over 40 percent of global emissions, there will be significant momentum to deal with climate change (at a G20 summit) in Brisbane," he said.

While congratulating the United States and China on their joint statement, Christine Milne, leader of the Australian Greens, urged the government to make strenuous efforts in coping with global warming.

"It's not too late for Australia to get on board," he said.

Meanwhile, environmental academics and experts worldwide were inspired by the announcement, which they said is a groundbreaking positive signal.

Joss Garman, associate fellow on climate change at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a British think-tank, expressed his confidence in the prospect of reaching an international climate agreement.

"For decades a wall has separated political action from the scientific imperative on climate change. But with one handshake, the leaders of China and the US have breached that wall. When the world meets in Paris next year, it may finally crumble," he said.

Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian environmental think-tank, said the ambitious commitments sent a strong signal toward next year's climate negotiations in Paris and could catalyze the conclusion of a global climate agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

"This early leadership on the part of the United States and China will play a crucial role in boosting ambition by other countries, expected to announce their national emission reduction contributions in the first quarter of 2015," it said in a statement.

Frederic Hauge, president of Bellona Foundation, said the announcement is historic, probably the most important thing in the international fight against climate change.

"Probably, this is greater than the Kyoto Protocol," he said.