Joint US-Chinese research in clean energy, COP 15
Release Date: 2009-07-16
The world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases on Wednesday announced plans for a joint research center with initial financing of $15 million and headquarters in both countries.
The United States and China, the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters, announced plans for a joint clean energy research center on Wednesday as the American Secretary of Commerce appealed to Beijing to avoid imposing trade barriers on green technology.
The research center is an effort at compromise between the two governments, which disagree on whether China should join richer nations in adopting binding emissions-reduction targets to stave off environmental devastation from climate change.
With initial financing of $15 million and headquarters in both countries, the center will focus on coal and clean buildings and vehicles, said US Energy Secretary Steven Chu. It highlights potential US-Chinese cooperation in an industry that Washington says could create thousands of jobs.
"I know we can accomplish more by working together than by working alone," Chu said after meeting with Chinese Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke were in Beijing to lobby China to promote private-sector development of solar, wind, biofuels and other clean energy.
Locke appealed to China to avoid trade barriers to clean technology. Some companies say Beijing is trying to build up its industry by shielding companies from competition, shutting foreign competitors out of wind power and other projects.
"We need to empower US and Chinese entrepreneurs and innovators to create and collaborate free from artificial trade barriers," Locke said in a speech to an audience of American business people.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | COP 15 |
| Country: | Denmark |
| Url: | http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1720 |