Beijing, China - U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, Acting Assistant Secretary Judith Garber for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Jonathan Elkind, travel to Beijing, March 18–20, 2015 for a series of meetings on climate change and environmental cooperation.
On March 19–20, Acting Assistant Secretary Judith Garber and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Elkind will co-lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-China Ten-Year Framework for Energy and Environment Cooperation (TYF). Established in June 2008, the TYF facilitates the exchange of information and best practices to foster innovation and develop solutions to challenges in seven areas: air, water, wetlands, nature reserves and protected areas, transportation, electricity, and energy efficiency.
The U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) will also meet for its annual intersessional meeting. The CCWG is led by U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern and Vice Chairman Zhang Yong of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission. Established during Secretary Kerry’s first trip to Beijing on April 14, 2013, the CCWG has become the premier vehicle for U.S.-China cooperation on climate change, with the goal of catalyzing cooperative bilateral action to reduce climate change pollution through initiatives on smart grids; heavy-duty and other vehicles; carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); energy efficiency in buildings and industry; improving greenhouse gas data collection and management; climate change and forests; climate smart / low carbon cities; plus joint work on industrial boilers and HFCs.
Acting Assistant Secretary Garber will also lead the Sixth U.S.-China Bilateral Forum on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade. Through the Bilateral Forum, the United States and China work toward our shared goal of protecting our natural resources by sharing best practices in forest resource protection and sustainable forest management. The Bilateral Forum provides an opportunity for both countries to review progress, consolidate gains in our collaborative activities, and invite private sector and civil society partners to join us in open discussions about future priorities.
U.S. agencies participating in the three meetings include the Departments of State, Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation, as well as the U.S. Trade Representative, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Trade and Development Agency, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Participating agencies for China include the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration, State Forestry Administration, and the Ministries of Finance, Environmental Protection, Science and Technology, Transportation, Industry and Information Technology, and Foreign Affairs.
Both initiatives support broader discussions under the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue which will meet later this year.
