Schakowsky Statement on U.S.-China Climate Change Agreement

CHICAGO – Last night, the President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, each made commitments to take aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response:

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, both for the United States and the world. Yesterday's announcement is a major milestone in the global effort to reverse the warming of our planet.

The Chinese pledge to ramp up clean energy production and peak emissions by 2030 marks the first time in history that it has made an international commitment to curb carbon dioxide emissions. For the United States, the announcement that we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 26 to 28 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2025 builds on the President's strong legacy of protecting public health and the environment. It also puts us on track to reduce harmful emissions 80 percent by mid-century, consistent with what scientists tell us is needed to avoid irreversible climate change.

As the two largest economies - and polluters - on earth, the United States and China have a responsibility to lead the fight against climate change. Yesterday's announcement proves that we are willing to take that challenge head-on in advance of the United Nations Climate Conference meeting next year, which has set a goal of reaching a broad international emissions reduction agreement. By setting different targets for the two countries, yesterday's announcements also showed a blueprint for negotiating among nations with varying capacities to achieve emissions reductions.

I strongly support yesterday's developments and will continue to work to reduce U.S. emissions.

For more information on the U.S.-China climate accord visit the following: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/11/us-china-joint-announcement-climate-change