U.S., China to cooperate on renewable energy and climate change

Sixth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

The United States and China have agreed upon a set of clean energy policies, promising joint investment and development of cost-effective, carbon-free renewable energy resources for future energy efficiency programs.

The cooperation was announced at the recently held Sixth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in Beijing.

Sixth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
Sixth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (Source: Ecns.cn)

Both countries reviewed growth opportunities in energy sector with an agreement on cooperation in the field of energy and climate changes, offering investment and exchange of technology and practices through various projects and collaborations.

As part of a new joint renewable energy initiative, both countries will organize a tour funded by the U.S. Trade & Development Agency with nine delegates from China’s National Energy Administration to visit the U.S.

China and the U.S. will support the Chinese Institute of Electronics to conduct a feasibility study on energy-saving technologies for green data centers with grants offered from the U.S. Trade & Development Agency.

Additionally, the Advanced Coal Technology Consortium will conduct a joint pre-feasibility study on combined carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS)/fresh-water co-production pilot project, under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC).

Under the framework of an agreement signed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China and the U.S. Department of Energy, both countries will work in cooperation towards electric vehicle technologies and energy efficiency improvement of terminal products.

After two successful workshops on Eco-City Project earlier, both countries will now encourage additional interactions between city officials, technology providers and energy institutions to enhance energy efficiency program in cities.

A workshop will be conducted between China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the U.S. Department of Commerce on exchange of “Digital Energy” that stimulate information and communication technologies (ICT)-enabled energy efficiency.

As part of immediate measures to combat climate change, the United States and China will strengthen climate change interaction, implementing plans and announcing projects under five CCWG initiatives, including smart grids, heavy-duty and other vehicles, carbon capture and managing greenhouse gas emissions data.

Four collaborative smart grid projects, two in China and two in the U.S. with a common project framework of cost and benefit methodology will be implemented in the near future.

The United States together with China-led Task Group will identify technologies and practices needed for energy efficiency in selected sectors and disseminate top 10 lists. The United States and China will share best practices of the U.S. ENERGY STAR Program and China’s Energy Saving Product Certification Program.

The United States and China will conduct workshops and carry out a study tour to the U.S. to develop China’s greenhouse gas (GHG) capacity measurement and methodologies.

The United States and China will conserve and manage global forests, recognizing their benefits and launch a new initiative on U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group.

The two countries reaffirmed the earlier HFCs agreement and agreed to promote bilateral cooperation for the progress in phasing down HFCs.

The Strategic Track between both countries was chaired by Yang Jiechi; state councilor, Xi Jinping; special representative of President and John Kerry; secretary of state as well as special representative of President Barack Obama. Other participants included senior officials from both governments.

Both countries reviewed the implementation of the Strategic Track results of the Fifth Round of the S&ED, conducted broad discussions on issues of bilateral, regional, and global interests, assured the role of S&ED in strengthening strategic support and growing cooperation, managing the areas of differences with tactics and developing a meaningful relations between the United States and China.

The outcome of the dialogue identified certain areas that need cooperation including high level exchanges for bilateral cooperation, strategic security dialogue involving military relations, counterterrorism dialogue and more. The talk also addressed regional and global challenges involving Korean Peninsula, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan issues.

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