US-China climate deal isn’t enough to avert effects of global warming, experts say
November 13, 2014
Climate experts said Wednesday that the historic agreement between the United States and China to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, though a major breakthrough, is still not likely to move the world back into a climate safe zone that would avert the worst effects of global warming. According to the deal, the United States will reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 28 percent below their 2005 level. It would do so by 2025. China, meanwhile, pledges to limit its fast-rising emissions of carbon dioxide to the level reached in 2030 and no higher. It will also try to get 20 percent of its energy from non-fossil-fuel sources by then, if not earlier. The agreement comes after a similar announcement recently by the European Union. E.U. members committed to reduce their collective emissions by 40 percent below their 1990 level. They are promising to do that by 2030.