Washington, DC .- In light of the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change and its worsening impacts, and the related issue of air pollution from burning fossil fuels, the United States and China recognize the urgent need for action to meet these twin challenges. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to contribute significantly to successful 2015 global efforts to meet this challenge.
Accordingly, China and the United States will work together, within the vehicle of the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) launched last year, to collaborate through enhanced policy dialogue, including the sharing of information regarding their respective post-2020 plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Regarding practical cooperative actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, the two sides have reached agreement on the implementation plans on the five initiatives launched under the CCWG, including Emission Reductions from Heavy Duty and Other Vehicles, Smart Grids, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage, Collecting and Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data, and Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry, and commit to devote significant effort and resources to secure concrete results by the Sixth U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in 2014.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/02/221686.htm
15/2/14
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Accordingly, China and the United States will work together, within the vehicle of the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) launched last year, to collaborate through enhanced policy dialogue, including the sharing of information regarding their respective post-2020 plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Regarding practical cooperative actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, the two sides have reached agreement on the implementation plans on the five initiatives launched under the CCWG, including Emission Reductions from Heavy Duty and Other Vehicles, Smart Grids, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage, Collecting and Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data, and Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry, and commit to devote significant effort and resources to secure concrete results by the Sixth U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in 2014.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/02/221686.htm
15/2/14
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U.S., China pledge cooperation on climate change...
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήBEIJING — The United States and China said Saturday they have agreed to intensify efforts to address climate change and to work together on forging a common platform ahead of a global summit on the issue at the end of next year.
The agreement was announced during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, as some of the worst air pollution in almost a year brought visibility down to two or three blocks in Beijing.
In the past, efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions have often foundered because of disagreements between developed and developing nations over how the burden of adjustment should be shared.
If the United States can find common ground with China, it could potentially help to bridge that divide and make it easier to reach agreements with other developing nations such as India. But it was not immediately clear whether Saturday’s joint statement was a sign of meaningful progress...............http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-china-to-cooperate-on-climate-change/2014/02/15/4064e818-963e-11e3-ae45-458927ccedb6_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
15/2/14
Kerry Warns About Global Climate Change ...
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told an audience in Jakarta, Indonesia, that climate change is a threat to the entire world.
"When I think about the array of global climate, of the global threats, think about this: terrorism, epidemics, poverty, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. All challenges that know no borders. The reality is that climate change ranks right up there with every single one of them."
Kerry said the science of climate change is compelling the world to act and that the science is absolutely certain.
He stressed that 97 percent of scientists agree that climate change is happening and that it is caused by human activity.
Many scientists say a warmer planet means a rise in sea levels, which could have a dangerous impact on island nations like Indonesia.
Kerry arrived in Indonesia from China where he talked about global warming and other matters with President Xi Jinping.
The two issued a joint statement recognizing the need for what they call urgent action to fight climate change and to work together to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Many scientists believe burning fossil fuels in cars and factories is a major cause of global warming. The United States and China are the world's two biggest polluters.
Indonesia is the last stop on Kerry's six-day Asian tour, which, along with China, included a stop in Seoul.
http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-warns-about-global-climate-change/1852414.html
16/2/14
Kerry: le réchauffement climatique est une «arme de destruction massive»...
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήLe secrétaire d’Etat américain John Kerry, en tournée en Asie, a appelé à Jakarta la communauté internationale à faire plus dans la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique, qualifiant celui-ci «de plus grande arme de destruction massive».
Dans un discours devant des étudiants indonésiens, John Kerry a averti que les pays asiatiques proches du niveau de la mer et aux riches écosystèmes étaient particulièrement menacés par la montée des eaux. Les pays d’Asie du Sud-Est sont «en première ligne du changement climatique», a-t-il dit.
Le responsable américain a comparé le réchauffement climatique à d’autres menaces comme le terrorisme ou la prolifération nucléaire, domaines dans lesquels les nations devaient travailler ensemble pour rendre le monde plus sûr.
«Dans un sens, le changement climatique peut être considéré comme une autre arme de destruction massive, peut-être l’arme la plus terrifiante», a lancé John Kerry, un défenseur passionné de longue date de la protection de l’environnement.
A l’attention de son jeune auditoire, il a souligné que «les dix années les plus chaudes ont été enregistrées depuis que Google a été mis en ligne en 1998». Il a cité les scientifiques avertissant que si le monde ne réagissait pas, le niveau de la mer pourrait monter d’un mètre d’ici à la fin du siècle.
«Un mètre suffirait à engloutir la moitié de Jakarta. Un mètre déplacerait des centaines de millions de personnes à travers le monde et coûterait des milliards (de dollars) à l’activité économique», a expliqué M. Kerry. L’Indonésie, un archipel de quelque 17.000 îles, est un des principaux pays émetteurs de gaz à effet de serre en raison de la déforestation.
Le secrétaire d’Etat américain a prononcé ce discours après s’être rendu dans la mosquée la plus vaste du sud-est asiatique, à Jakarta, signe de respect envers l’islam dans le pays à la plus large population musulmane au monde.
Après avoir ôté ses chaussures devant la mosquée Istiqlal au centre de la capitale indonésienne, Kerry a parcouru l’immense bâtiment, accompagné du grand imam Kyai al-Hajj Ali Mustafa Yaqub.
Evoquant «un endroit extraordinaire», le chef de la diplomatie américaine a déclaré à la presse: «c’est un privilège pour moi d’être ici et je suis très reconnaissant que le grand imam m’ait permis de venir»...................http://www.lesoir.be/469274/article/actualite/monde/2014-02-16/kerry-rechauffement-climatique-est-une-arme-destruction-massive
16/2/14
Remarks on Climate Change. -John Kerry, Secretary of State, @america, Jakarta, Indonesia....
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήSECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Robert. Thank you very, very much. I don’t know. I think some of you were cheering twice for the same university. I don’t know. (Laughter.) It seemed to come from the same place anyway.
What a pleasure to be here at America, where we are looking at all of the air conditioning pipes running right through here. I love it. The spirit and feel of this place is very special and it’s wonderful to see our friends up here from Kalimantan and also everybody from Sumatra. Thank you very much for being with us. Can you hear me? Yeah! Wave! (Laughter.) Do a few selfies, everybody will – (laughter.) Anyway, it’s really a pleasure to be here. I see a lot of iPads up in the air sort of flashing away.
This is special. Ambassador Blake, thank you for doing this. Thank you all for coming here today. I want to welcome all of those of you who are tuning in elsewhere, some of you who are watching on a home webcast, and we’re delighted to have you here. It’s really a pleasure for me to be able to be back in Jakarta, back in Indonesia, where you have one of the richest ecosystems on Earth. And you live in a country that is at the top of the global rankings for both marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and you have a human ecosystem that includes some 300 ethnic groups, speaking at least 700 languages – extraordinary place.
But because of climate change, it is no secret that today, Indonesia is also one of the most vulnerable countries on Earth.
This year, as Secretary of State, I will engage in a series of discussions on the urgency of addressing climate change – particularly on the national security implications and the economic opportunities. And I want you to think about those. But I wanted to start right here, in Jakarta, because this city – this country – this region – is really on the front lines of climate change. It’s not an exaggeration to say to you that the entire way of life that you live and love is at risk. So let’s have a frank conversation about this threat and about what we, as citizens of the world, need to be able to do to address it...................http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/02/221704.htm
16/2/14