Eileen Claussen: Roadmap for a U.S.-China Partnership on Climate Change

The U.S. and Chinese governments must start right now to build a stronger partnership on energy and climate change. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to China in February provided a welcome opportunity for the two nations to engage on a range of issues that are of strategic importance. Climate change and energy security were top agenda items for the Secretary's discussions, and here's a vote for keeping them there. Both issues are of deep concern to the United States and China -- climate change because of the grave economic and environmental risks it poses to the two nations and the world; and energy because of the consequences of our nations' soaring use of fossil fuels both for the climate and for national and global security. As countries prepare for major climate talks in Copenhagen in December, it's critical that the United States and China send clear signals of each country's willingness to take significant climate actions suitable to their respective responsibilities. A ... (link)