China and US reach landmark deal on carbon cuts

China and the United States have agreed new targets on greenhouse gas emissions, with China agreeing to curb emissions for the first time and the US agreeing to a major cut by 2025.

The landmark agreement, jointly announced by President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping, includes new targets for carbon emissions reductions by the United States and a first-ever commitment by China to stop its emissions from growing by 2030.

US officials said the agreement, which was worked out in secret between the United States and China over nine months and included a letter from Mr Obama to Mr Xi proposing a joint approach, could galvanise efforts to negotiate a new global climate agreement by 2015.

It was the signature achievement of an unexpectedly productive two days of meetings between the leaders. Mr Obama and Mr Xi also agreed to a military accord designed to avert clashes between Chinese and American planes and warships in the tense waters off the Chinese coast, as well as an understanding to cut tariffs for technology products.

A climate deal between China and the United States, the world's biggest polluters, is viewed as essential to concluding a new global accord. Unless Beijing and Washington can resolve their differences, climate experts say, few other countries will agree to mandatory cuts in emissions and any meaningful worldwide pact will be likely to founder.

“The United States and China have often been seen as antagonists,” said a senior official, speaking in advance of Mr Obama’s remarks. “We hope that this announcement can usher in a new day in which China and the US can act much more as partners.”

As part of the agreement, Mr Obama announced that the United States would emit 26 to 28 per cent less carbon in 2025 than it did in 2005. That is double the pace of reduction it targeted for the period from 2005 to 2020. China’s pledge to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030, if not sooner, is even more remarkable. To reach that goal, Mr Xi pledged that so-called clean energy sources, like solar power and windmills, would account for 20 per cent of China’s total energy production by 2030.

Administration officials acknowledged that Mr Obama could face opposition to his plans from a Republican-controlled Congress. While the agreement with China needs no congressional ratification, lawmakers could try to roll back Mr Obama’s initiatives, undermining the United States’ ability to meet the new reduction targets.

Still, the US leader's visit, which came days after a setback in the midterm elections, allowed him to reclaim some of the momentum he lost at home. As the campaign was turning against the Democrats last month, Mr Obama quietly dispatched John Podesta, a senior adviser who oversees climate policy, to Beijing to try to finalise a deal.

Adding to the historic nature of the visit, Mr Obama and Mr Xi are scheduled to give a joint news conference later today that will include questions from reporters - a rare concession by the Chinese leader to a visiting American president.

Yesteday, Mr Xi invited his US counterpart to dinner at his official residence, telling his guest he hoped they had laid the foundation for a collaborative relationship - or as he more metaphorically put it, “A pool begins with many drops of water.”

Mr Obama told the Chinese president that he wanted to take the relationship “to a new level.”

“When the US and China are able to work together effectively,” he added, “the whole world benefits.”

This morning, Mr Xi formally welcomed Mr Obama at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People; they later toasted each other at a state banquet.

NYT