Los Angeles — Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced that U.S. and Chinese subnational leaders will be making new climate commitments and agreements at the U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit, which will be held in Los Angeles September 15-16, 2015. The Summit is the first official convening of U.S. and Chinese subnational leaders on climate change under the Climate Change Working Group. It represents a key opportunity to galvanize climate action before December’s United Nations climate conference in Paris.
“Cities are the primary source of all greenhouse gas emissions and are on the frontlines of battling the extreme weather caused by climate change,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Mayors are helping lead the way to find solutions to reducing pollution, and I’m proud to welcome leaders from China and across the U.S. to Los Angeles for this historic summit.”
During the Summit, leading cities from both countries will also be sharing best practices and discussing objectives in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight global climate change. Outcomes from the Summit will be discussed at the State Visit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, DC the following week.
The Summit results from the historic joint climate announcement by Presidents Obama and Xi last November. Mayor Garcetti visited China the week after that announcement and offered Los Angeles as the host of this first annual event.
In the joint announcement by Presidents Obama and Xi, the U.S. committed to reduce its emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels in 2025, and China committed to peak CO2 emissions around 2030. The announcement also launched a U.S.-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Initiative to respond to growing urbanization and increasingly significant greenhouse gas emissions from cities.
The Summit in Los Angeles marks the first effort of that initiative and will bring together local leaders from both countries for a multiple-day conference featuring a high-level plenary at which leaders declare their resolve, ambition, and actions; working-level technical exchanges to share experience and best practices; and an exhibition to engage the private sector. Breakout sessions and panel discussions will cover topics including:
- Low-Carbon City Planning
- Climate Finance, and Carbon Markets , and Incentive Programs
- Low-Carbon Urban Form and Transportation and Zero Emission Vehicles
- Climate-Smart Buildings and Green Infrastructure
- Low-Carbon Energy
- Urban Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change
