Whereas the United States and the People's Republic of
China are the world's largest producers, consumers, and importers of energy and
account for 36 percent of global primary energy use and 41 percent of global
carbon dioxide emissions;
Whereas, in 2007, China surpassed the United States to
become the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases and China is projected
to increase emissions of greenhouse gases by 3.3 percent annually during the
next 2 decades;
Whereas, by working together to tackle shared economic,
environmental, and security challenges, the United States and China can more
quickly and cost-effectively develop and implement cleaner, 21st-century energy
systems;
Whereas efforts to develop and implement such systems will
benefit from a foundation in sound science and policies that rely on and
augment the vast technical capabilities and resources of both the United States
and China; and
Whereas an action plan resulting from a bilateral
agreement on clean energy cooperation between the United States and China may
serve as a catalyst for the economic growth of the United States, an expression
of United States foreign policy with respect to mitigating climate change, and
a means for accelerating the development of a global clean energy economy: Now,
therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate
that—
(1)the United States
and the People's Republic of China should negotiate a bilateral agreement under
which the United States and China agree to cooperate in the development and use
of clean energy; and
(2)the negotiation
of such an agreement would send a clear signal to the world community that the
United States is ready to lead a robust effort to mitigate global climate
change that involves all countries that are major emitters of greenhouse
gases.