WASHINGTON, D.C. - A report released today by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, entitled Broadening the Bilateral: Seizing the Opportunity for Meaningful U.S.-China Collaboration on Climate Change, recommends that the Administration pursue a robust climate change agreement with China during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) this week. The report outlines the latest climate change science, reviews domestic actions in China, identifies current areas of U.S.-China energy collaboration, and addresses ways to move the bilateral relationship forward.
"We are at a critical juncture in our global effort to address climate change. The clock is ticking and America cannot meet the challenges alone," said Chairman Kerry. "We must use bilateral venues like the Strategic and Economic Dialogue to help build a global framework that is flexible enough to accommodate individual countries' wants and needs—but firm enough to hold all nations accountable."
The report notes that any global effort to address climate change must include China and the United States, which together produce more than 40 percent of global carbon emissions annually. The re-launching of the bilateral S&ED offers a forum to pursue broader goals and will be a barometer for our progress bilaterally.
"With greater bilateral cooperation on climate change and clean energy, the United States and China can lead the international community to a global solution," said Chairman Kerry.
The report recommends that the two countries must conceive broadly of their relationship and continue to build support for action through joint initiatives, including a bilateral laboratory; at-scale construction of near-commercial technologies like carbon capture and storage; and the training of a clean energy corps to help fully capture billions of dollars in energy efficiency opportunities.
At the conclusion of the S&ED, Senator Kerry will address the National Press Club at a luncheon on Wednesday, July 29, to assess the outcomes of the S&ED and chart a path forward to December'sUN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.This luncheon will follow a breakfast Senator Kerry will be hosting in honor of Chinese delegation.
Full version of the report is available on www.foreign.senate.gov.
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