Comparative Assessment of China and U.S. Policies to Meet Climate Change Targets

China and the United States together emit more than 40 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) according to the latest available data. Therefore any successful global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must include meaningful contributions from both countries. Each country has started down this path by committing to reduce CO2 emissions and both have announced plans, policies, and programs to meet those commitments. However, the character of the carbon problem in each country is different and so while the plans, programs, and policies they are pursuing have some similarities, the emphasis is different.