Rep. Waxman Statement on the Climate Pledges by President Obama and President Xi

"Today's announcement of joint greenhouse gas reduction pledges by the United States and China is a historic breakthrough. It is game-changing leadership by the world’s two biggest emitters. History may look back and say this was the turning point on climate. The world has been waiting decades for the United States and China to reach an understanding on climate. Now that moment has finally arrived. The road to an international agreement in Paris next year just got a lot shorter and smoother. The U.S. commitment is science-based. It is achievable. And it will make the U.S. the world leader in the clean-energy economy of the future. The U.S. and China are standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight against dangerous climate change. Europe has already made its own strong pledge. Now the rest of the world can join in.”