U.S. and China Launch Cooperation on Subnational Climate Action

CANCUN, Mexico, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. states and Chinese provinces launch focused effort to cooperate on comprehensive climate action planning.  

The Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), a U.S.-based 501(c)3, and its Chinese partner the Global Environment Institute (GEI), a China-based NGO, have teamed up to lead the subnational effort between states and provinces in the two nations. CCS and GEI will showcase cooperative work between U.S. states and Chinese provinces. Presentations by key national and subnational government leaders from China and the U.S. will focus on the challenges and opportunities for cooperative engagement at the subnational level.

"The potential for economic, energy and environmental gains through state and provincial cooperation on bottom-up policy solutions in the U.S. and China is vast, and can be realized by cooperative programs such as the current pilot program involving the state of New York and Guangdong Province," said Tom Peterson, president and CEO of the Center for Climate Strategies. "This is exactly the kind of work needed right now at the subnational level to curb greenhouse gas emissions and advance economic growth while helping the global community develop an effective post-Kyoto agreement."

Teams of provincial and state officials have traveled between the Guangdong Province of China and the U.S. states of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland to focus on the transfer of knowledge and techniques that each needs to attain economic growth and emissions reduction goals simultaneously through advanced climate action planning and analysis. A climate action plan pilot for the Guangdong Province is now underway with CCS and GEI assistance.

"Working together, states and provinces can capitalize on the opportunities binational cooperation offers through advanced climate action," said Mr. Su Wei, Director General, Department of Climate Change, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

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SOURCE Center for Climate Strategies