Hearing on China’s Green Energy and Environmental Policies
Opening Statement of Commissioner William A. Reinsch
April 8, 2010
Washington, DC
Good morning and welcome to this year’s fourth hearing of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Today’s hearing will examine China’s domestic and international clean energy policies. In addition, we will look at the potential for cooperation or competition between the United States and China on climate change and clean energy.
As a result of decades of rapid economic growth and heavy industrialization, China is currently one of the world’s top energy consumers and is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In order to curb the resulting environmental damage, Chinese leaders have enacted a number of plans and directives with a specific focus on developing a low carbon economy. In 2009, the State Council announced that China will reduce its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent over the next ten years.
However, China’s international actions on climate change do not mirror its domestic progress. Beijing refuses to allow its domestic carbon reduction targets to be internationally binding. In addition, it rebuffs attempts to make its domestic environmental data subject to independent verification. Finally, China continues to insist that as a developing nation it has less responsibility than developed nations to limit its carbon emissions.
To help us better understand these issues, we will be joined today by a number of experts from the Administration, academia, and the private sector. In particular, we are pleased to welcome the Honorable David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy to present the Administration’s views on these issues.
I now turn the hearing over to Commissioner Shea for his opening statement.