U.S.-China Climate Pact Isn't on Table, Envoy Says

SHANGHAI -- U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern said he doesn't expect bilateral agreements on global climate issues when U.S. President Barack Obama visits China next month.
The U.S. and China will use the opportunity to look for common ground and try to facilitate agreements at the Copenhagen climate-change summit in December, he said.
"We are not trying to cut some separate deals," Mr. Stern told reporters. "We'll try to get as much alliance as possible [between China and the U.S.] to get a deal in Copenhagen," he said.
He also said the two sides will continue discussions on cooperation in clean energy and technology during Mr. Obama's visit, and these talks would also involve the private sector.
Mr. Obama is due to visit Beijing and Shanghai Nov. 15-18. His visit constitutes the last chance for high-level face-to-face talks between the two sides ahead of the United Nations summit in Copenhagen. Agreement between the two countries -- the world's largest greenhouse-gas emitters -- is widely seen as crucial to the success of any global effort to fight climate change.
The two nations have been locked in a stalemate for years over the degree to which either should have to commit to mandatory emissions cuts, and to what extent rich nations should have to help finance efforts by poorer nations to fight climate change.
During the visit, the two country's presidents may ask each other what their bottom lines are on climate-change issues, a Chinese government official told Dow Jones Newswires.
"Climate-change negotiation is not an issue between two countries. It is an issue at the United Nations," the Chinese official said, adding, "What the two countries would do is to learn about each other's need and concerns, and to see if these concerns could be resolved through the international pact."
Mr. Stern's comments came as representatives of major industries testified before a U.S. Senate panel that is holding hearings this week on a proposal to cut U.S. emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020. Valero Energy Corp.'s chief executive told lawmakers the proposed bill could have a "staggering" impact on his company and cost the refining industry around $4.1 billion a year.