China announced yesterday a near term goal of a 40-45% reduction in it’s carbon intensity, using 2005 as a baseline. Carbon intensity is a measure that captures the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product. The announcement comes a day after President Obama also set U.S. climate goals for the talks in Copenhagen next month. On November 25^th The President stated that he is prepared to set a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020. A link to the President’s statement on the Copenhagen climate talks can be found here.

The announcements come after President Obama’s visit with President Hu earlier this month. On November 17^th President Obama and President Hu agreed to several initiatives aimed at promoting joint work on clean energy technologies. Key elements include the establishment of:

• A U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. The Center is intended to support research and development of clean energy technologies by scientists from both the United States and China.
• A U.S.-China Electric Vehicles Initiative. The initiative will include joint standards development, technical roadmapping, and public education projects.
• A U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan. The plan intends to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, energy facilities, and consumer appliances.
• A U.S.-China Renewable Energy Partnership. The partnership states the two countries intentions to develop roadmaps for wide-spread renewable energy deployment in both countries.
• A 21^st Century Goal. The goal includes the Presidents’ pledge to promote cleaner uses of coal.
• A Shale gas Initiative. Under the initiative the U.S. pledges to use it’s experience to assess China’s shale gas potential and promote environmentally-sustainable development of shale gas resources.
• A U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program. The program will use private sector resources for project development in China across various clean energy projects.

A DOE press release, containing links to detailed information on each of the initiatives can be found by clicking here.  President Obama later stated at a news conference with President Hu that as the two largest consumers and producers of energy, there could be no solution without the efforts of both countries. He also noted that both Presidents have agreed to work toward a successful outcome in Copenhagen, which would include an accord that covers all the issues in the negotiations, and one that “has an immediate operational effect”. A joint press statement regarding the Presidents’ talks can be found here.