THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
JOINT STATEMENT ON COOPERATION ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA
a sustainable manner is one of the most important challenges of
the 21st century. They underscore the central role energy plays
in economic development, as well as the human health and environmental
risks associated with unsustainable use of energy and natural
resources. They note that the development and deployment of
cleaner and more efficient energy technologies will contribute
significantly to improving local air quality and protecting the
global environment. The United States and China recognize that
countries can achieve sustained economic growth while
protecting the environment and taking actions to combat climate change.
2. The United States and China note that their common desire to promote
clean energy and protect the environment has guided past cooperation
and joint initiatives. They accord high importance to the US-China
Forum on Environment and Development and commit to further their
cooperation in the fields of clean energy, environmental protection,
science and technology and commercial cooperation. The two nations
will also continue to cooperate on efforts to strengthen the Chinese
environmental regulatory regime to encourage pollution control
and abatement.
3. The United States and China recognize the potential of Chinese
accession to the WTO to broaden and accelerate the transfer
of environmentally-sound technologies, goods and services, thereby
advancing clean energy and environmental protection goals.
4. The two countries are taking many initiatives on their own to
mitigate the impact of energy production and use on the environment.
China plans to expand significantly the use of natural gas in
China's energy supply and increase the utilization of coalbed
methane and clean coal technologies. China also plans to
increase significantly the generation of power from renewable
energy sources. China's recent structural reforms and removal of
certain fossil fuel subsidies have already resulted in
economic and environmental benefits; further economic reforms
should result in additional environmental benefits.
5. The United States is committed to a clean energy future and to the
goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, the United
States pursues a program of research and development, public education,
promotion of energy efficient products and practices, and targeted
tax incentives. Specific actions during the past year include issuance
by the President of an Executive Order mandating reduction in energy
use in federal buildings; issuance by the President of a directive
that sets a target to triple the use of bio-energy in the U.S.;
issuance by the President of a directive to reduce petroleum use in
the federal vehicle fleet; and establishment by the Department of Energy
of new goals to increase the share of U.S. electricity generated by
wind power.
6. The United States and China reaffirm their strong support for
international efforts to combat global climate change under the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto
Protocol, in accordance with the principle of common
but differentiated responsibilities. The two countries express the
willingness to entertain new and creative thinking and approaches
to cooperation between developed and developing countries on climate
change. The two countries intend to work together and with other
countries toward early agreement on the elements of the Kyoto
mechanisms, including the Clean Development Mechanism, which
could offer opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation
between developed and developing countries. They recognize, in
particular, that the Clean Development Mechanism could provide
important opportunities for economic growth and environmental
protection.
7. China and the United States reaffirm their commitment
to sustainable management and protection of natural resources and
endangered species. China is taking aggressive steps to combat
deforestation, including banning of logging in southwest China
and an ambitious tree-planting and reforestation program in
the Yangtze basin, in the Beijing metropolitan area, and elsewhere.
The two countries have a long history of cooperation in this area,
and affirm their intention to work together to assure that any
increased trade flows will not undercut natural resource management
and species protection programs.
8. The United States and China believe that energy and
environment constitutes one of the most important areas of cooperation
between the two countries. The joint initiatives taken by the
two sides will give practical shape to that vision. By making
clean energy widely available through development and application
of new technologies and strengthening efforts to protect our
environment and this planet's biodiversity, China-US cooperation will
contribute in significant measure towards further securing the welfare
and quality of life of the peoples of the two countries. It
will also be a vital contribution towards preserving the riches of
our planet for future generations.
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