US and China ink emission reporting co-operation deal

The flurry of bilateral environment agreements signed this week between the US and China delivered a significant new deal yesterday designed to improve China's ability to monitor its greenhouse gas emissions.

According to reports, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and China's National Development and Reform Commission have signed a memorandum of co-operation that will see them work together to develop an accurate greenhouse gas inventory for the world's most polluting nation.

Jake Schmidt, international climate policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the Washington Post that the move would help to bolster the credibility of China's recent commitments to roll out low carbon technologies and curb its carbon intensity.

He said that the agreement shows that the accurate measurement of Chinese emissions "is now front and centre of the US-China conversation, and at a high level," adding that it would mean "China's going to be able to put forward commitments that are much more transparent, and much more credible".

The project could also help bolster the chances of a US climate change bill being passed. A number of Senators, including Democrat Senator Evan Bayh, have questioned whether China's greenhouse gas emissions data can be trusted, arguing that any pledges from the country to reduce its carbon intensity would need to be backed up by more credible emission measurement techniques.