中美戰略與經濟對話報告

Report of the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group to the Strategic and Economic Dialogue
中美氣候變化工作組提交中美戰略與經濟對話的報告

July 10, 2013
2013年7月10日

The U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group (hereinafter referred to as the Working Group) submits this Report to the Special Representatives of Leaders of the United States and China for the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (hereinafter referred to as the S&ED) pursuant to the Joint Statement on Climate Change issued by the United States and China on April 13, 2013.
根據中美兩國2013年4月13日發表的《氣候變化聯合聲明》，中美氣候變化工作組（以下簡稱“工作組”）謹向中美戰略與經濟對話（以下簡稱“戰略與經濟對話”）兩國元首特別代表提交本報告。

Introduction
引言

We have prepared this Report mindful of the overwhelming scientific consensus about anthropogenic climate change and its worsening impacts, as well as the urgent need to intensify global efforts to combat climate change. Rising temperatures are predicted to lead to sea level rise that could affect tens of millions of people around the world, as well as more frequent and intense heat waves, intensified urban smog, and droughts and floods in our most productive agricultural regions. Global climate change represents a grave threat to the economic livelihood and security of all nations, but it also represents a significant opportunity for sustainable development that will benefit both current and future generations. We believe that ambitious domestic action by China and the United States is more critical than ever. China has given high priority to building an “Ecological Civilization” by striving for green, circular and low-carbon development. It has adopted proactive policies and measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The United States is implementing robust policies to promote renewable energy, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce emissions from transportation, buildings, and the power sector. Both countries recognize the need to work together to continue and build on these important efforts.
在準備本報告時，我們謹記對於人爲氣候變化及其日益惡化的影響已形成強有力的科學共識，謹記加強全球應對氣候變化努力的迫切需要。溫度升高導致的海平面上升、日益頻繁且強烈的高溫天氣、嚴重的城市霧霾以及發生在最具生產力的農業區域的旱災和洪災，這些可能影響到全球千百萬人民的生存。全球氣候變化對各國經濟民生和國家安全構成了嚴重威脅，但同時也是可持續發展的重要機遇，惠及當代和子孫後代。我們相信中美兩國採取雄心勃勃的國內行動比以往任何時候都更爲重要。中國高度重視生態文明建設，努力尋求綠色、循環和低碳發展，採取了多種積極的政策和措施來減緩和適應氣候變化。美國通過實施有力政策，發展可再生能源，提高能效，減少交通、建築和電力行業的排放。兩國認識到需要共同協作繼續推進並加強這些努力。

The Joint Statement on Climate Change set in motion a process to take stock of our existing cooperative efforts as well as to identify significant new action initiatives. The United States and China established the Working Group to determine ways in which the two countries can strengthen cooperation on climate change through collaboration on technology, research, conservation, and alternative and renewable energy. The Working Group, chaired by National Development and Reform Commission Vice Chairman Xie Zhenhua and U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, met several times for in-depth discussions with the active participation of relevant government ministries on both sides.
《氣候變化聯合聲明》啓動了梳理現有合作努力及確定重要的新行動倡議的進程。中美建立了工作組，確定雙方通過技術、研究、節能以及替代能源和可再生能源等領域協作加強氣候變化合作的方式。工作組由中國國家發展和改革委員會副主任解振華和美國總統氣候變化特使託德·斯特恩擔任組長，並已舉行數次有雙方相關政府部門參加的會議進行了深入討論。

The Working Group’s findings and outcomes are presented below. The Working Group intends to coordinate ongoing implementation of the specific areas of cooperation identified in this Report, as well as the development of additional areas of cooperation for subsequent annual meetings of the S&ED. In addition, the Working Group intends to facilitate an enhanced policy dialogue.
工作組的成果提交如下。工作組旨在就正在落實中的本報告所確定具體合作領域進行協調，並協調隨後戰略與經濟對話年度會議上所開闢新的合作領域。此外，工作組還將促進加強政策對話。

Both sides believe that the kind of cooperative actions outlined in this Report will have substantial benefits. First, such actions can help each country grow and develop in sustainable ways. Significant co-benefits of investing in mitigation will also include enhanced energy security, reduced air pollution, improved public health, and conservation of important natural resources. Both sides will benefit from developing and deploying new environmental and clean energy technologies that promote economic prosperity and job creation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
雙方認爲報告中所列的合作行動將收益良多。首先，這些行動有助於兩國以可持續的方式實現增長和發展。對減緩的投入將帶來顯著協同利益，包括加強能源安全、減少空氣污染、改善公共健康、保護重要的自然資源。兩國將從開發和應用新的環保和清潔能源技術中受益，在減少溫室氣體排放的同時促進經濟繁榮和創造就業。

Second, both sides appreciate that advancing concrete action on climate change can serve as a pillar of our bilateral relationship, build mutual trust and respect, and pave the way for a stronger overall collaboration.
其次，雙方認識到推進應對氣候變化具體行動能夠成爲雙邊關係的一個支柱，建立互信和相互尊重，爲更加強有力的全面協作鋪平道路。

Third, we fully recognize that the United States and China play a significant role in global efforts to address climate change. Both sides agree that by enhancing our domestic actions and our bilateral climate cooperation, we can make an important contribution to the worldwide effort to confront climate change in a manner commensurate with the growing urgency of this global challenge.
第三，我們充分意識到中美兩國在全球應對氣候變化的努力中扮演重要的角色。雙方都認爲，通過加強國內行動和在氣候變化領域中的雙邊合作，我們能夠爲應對氣候變化世界範圍的努力做出與這一全球挑戰日益增加的緊迫性相稱的重要貢獻。

Stocktaking of existing cooperation on climate change
梳理現有氣候變化合作情況

Pursuant to the April 13, 2013 Joint Statement, the Working Group reviewed existing bilateral programs and initiatives related to climate change. This stocktaking exercise highlighted the breadth of these cooperative efforts, including under the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment, as well as under the Ten Year Framework for Cooperation on Energy and Environment. In recent years, exchanges and joint projects have taken place in a wide variety of areas, including renewable energy, building and industrial energy efficiency, clean transportation and electric vehicles, green buildings, sustainable cities, land use and forestry, scientific research, and technology research and development.
根據2013年4月13日聯合聲明，工作組回顧了與氣候變化相關的現有雙邊項目和倡議。這項梳理工作凸顯了這些合作行動的廣泛程度，包括在2009年簽署的《加強氣候變化、能源和環境合作的諒解備忘錄》和《中美能源環境十年合作框架》下的合作行動。近年來，雙方已在各個不同領域開展了多項交流與合作項目，包括可再生能源、建築和工業能效、清潔交通和電動汽車、綠色建築、可持續城市、土地利用和林業、科學研究和技術研發。

Important new activities pursuant to these existing programs are being announced in the context of the Strategic Dialogue, including six new EcoPartnerships, deployment of clean cookstoves in China, strengthened cooperation on scientific research and climate observations, and a bilateral Airport Sustainability Initiative.
在現有項目下開展的重要的新活動將會在中美戰略對話上宣佈，包括六個新的中美綠色合作伙伴、清潔爐竈在中國的推廣、加強科學研究和氣候觀測合作以及雙邊可持續機場倡議。

New action initiatives
新的行動倡議

The Working Group recognized the potential for bold, new, collaborative action to combat climate change and to promote low carbon development. Drawing on the full expertise of our government agencies, the Working Group examined a number of areas and recommended five new action initiatives as a start. Taken together, these action initiatives will address some of the key drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in our countries, including urbanization, transportation, industrial emissions, and coal-fired power generation. These initiatives also aim to produce significant co-benefits including cleaner air, energy savings, and water recovery.
工作組認識到全新大膽的合作行動在應對氣候變化和促進低碳發展方面的潛力。在利用兩國政府機構的全部專業力量的基礎上，工作組對一些領域進行了研究並建議先由五項新的行動倡議做起。總體而言，這些行動倡議將針對兩國最主要的溫室氣體排放源和空氣污染源，包括城市化、交通、工業排放以及燃煤發電。這些倡議同時也將產生顯著的協同效益，包括更清潔的空氣、能源節約和水的回收利用。1. Emission reductions from heavy-duty and other vehicles. The emissions from heavy-duty vehicles significantly degrade urban and regional air quality, while exacerbating global climate change. Light-duty vehicles also contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, fuel use and air pollution. Efforts under this initiative will include:
1、載重汽車和其他汽車的減排。載重汽車排放在加劇全球氣候變化的同時，將嚴重降低城市和地區空氣質量。輕型汽車同樣對溫室氣體排放、燃料使用和空氣污染有嚴重影響。本倡議的具體行動將包括：

A. Enhanced heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency standards: Each country will work domestically to implement policies and programs to improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles. The two countries will also deepen technical exchanges on efficiency standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Relevant agencies include China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
（1）提高載重汽車的燃油效率標準：兩國將通過各自的國內政策和項目提高載重汽車的燃油效率。雙方將深化有關輕型和載重汽車能效標準的技術交流。相關部門包括中國國家發展和改革委員會（簡稱“國家發改委”）、中國工業和信息化部、美國交通部（簡稱“交通部”）和美國環境保護署（簡稱“環保署”）。

B. Clean fuels and vehicle emissions control technologies: China will expeditiously implement its new low-sulfur standards and work toward adopting emission control technologies and enhancing vehicle emissions standards. The U.S. EPA will continue to implement its heavy-duty low-sulfur fuel and diesel standards and will provide technical support as appropriate for China’s domestic policies. Relevant agencies include China’s NDRC and Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. EPA.
（2）清潔燃料和車輛排放控制技術：中國將盡快實施新的低硫標準，爭取採用排放控制技術及提高車輛排放標準。美國環保署將繼續實施其載重汽車低硫燃料和柴油標準，並將爲中國國內政策提供適當的技術支持。相關部門包括中國國家發改委、中國環境保護部和美國環保署。

C. Promotion of efficient, clean freight: Each country will work domestically to increase efficiency of road freight transport, with the U.S. EPA providing technical assistance as appropriate for implementation of green freight policies through the China Green Freight Initiative. Relevant agencies include China’s NDRC and Ministry of Transport, the U.S. EPA, and the U.S. DOT.
（3）推廣高效、清潔的貨運：雙方將各自採取國內行動提高道路貨運效率，美國環保署將通過中國綠色貨運倡議爲綠色貨運政策的實施提供適當的技術支持。相關部門包括中國國家發改委、中國交通運輸部和美國環保署、美國交通部。

2. Smart Grids. Recognizing the fact that the integration of low carbon infrastructure, smart grid technologies, and clean electricity offers a powerful means to reduce carbon emissions in both the U.S. and China, both sides are to promote exchanges and cooperation on smart grid related technology and policy issues through workshops and dialogues. This work will build on collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) under the U.S.-China Renewable Energy Partnership and collaboration among the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the U.S. DOE, and China’s NEA on the Smart Grid Technical Exchange Program.
2、智能電網。雙方認識到對低碳基礎設施建設、智能電網技術和清潔發電進行整體性考慮是中美兩國減少碳排放的有力途徑，將通過研討會、對話推動就智能電網相關技術和政策促進交流與合作。這項工作將基於中國國家能源局（簡稱“能源局”）和美國能源部（簡稱“能源部”）在中美可再生能源合作伙伴關係框架下的合作和由美國聯邦電力監管委員會、美國貿易發展署、美國能源部和中國能源局合作開展的智能電網技術交流計劃。

3. Carbon capture, utilization and storage. Together, the United States and China account for more than 40 percent of global coal consumption. Emissions from coal combustion in the electric power and industrial sectors can be significantly reduced through carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Building on the significant R&D collaborations between the United States and China, and to encourage the transition from research to commercial-scale demonstration, China and the United States will cooperate to overcome previous barriers to CCUS deployment by implementing several integrated CCUS projects in both countries. These demonstrations will allow for enhanced trade and commerce. Both sides will analyze CO2 “utilization” options, such as enhanced oil and gas recovery, as well as innovative options such as fresh water production, work collaboratively on capture and storage issues, such as demonstrating different capture technology choices and monitoring and measuring of CO2 storage sites, and will regularly convene government, academic, and industry representatives to examine the regulatory framework for promotion of CCUS in the United States and China. The United States and China will undertake a three-tiered effort to identify integrated project sites; develop joint scientific and technical monitoring programs to manage information and lessons learned from the projects; and explore business-to-business joint cooperation for scaling up CCUS deployment. These demonstrations will be complemented by a regular high-level policy dialogue that will take stock of technical progress and exchange experiences and policies for CCUS in the United States and China. Both countries can use the information gained through this cooperation to take up necessary policies for promoting CCUS demonstration at scale across major emitting sectors.
3、碳捕集、利用和封存。中美兩國的煤炭消費量之和佔全球總量的40%以上。碳捕集、利用和封存（簡稱“CCUS”）可大幅度減少電力和工業領域的燃煤排放。在雙方重大研發合作的基礎上，並鼓勵由研究轉向商業化規模的示範，中國和美國將開展合作，通過在兩國實施數個整體性的CCUS項目，克服先前部署CCUS的障礙。這些示範項目將推進商業和貿易。雙方將分析二氧化碳的“利用”方式，如提高油氣採收，以及如淡水生產這樣的創新性利用方式；在捕集和封存問題上合作努力，如不同封存技術選擇的示範以及二氧化碳封存場址的監測和測量；將定期召集政府、學術界和產業界代表研究在中美兩國推廣CCUS的制度框架。中美兩國將開展三個層面的工作，確定整體性項目的選址，制訂聯合科學和技術監測方案來管理項目的信息和經驗，並探討企業間共同合作逐步擴大CCUS應用規模。這些示範項目將結合舉行定期的高級別政策對話，總結兩國CCUS的技術進展並交流相關經驗和政策。兩國可將本項合作所獲得信息用於制定必要的政策，促進CCUS在不同排放領域進行規模化示範。

4. Collecting and managing greenhouse gas emissions data. Both countries place a high priority on comprehensive, accurate reporting of economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions data to track progress in reducing emissions and to support development and implementation of mitigation policies. The United States and China intend to work cooperatively on capacity building for collection and management of greenhouse gas emissions data, building on extensive experience in this area. Working together and with others, such as the World Bank’s Partnership for Market Readiness, the United States and China can build models that may also benefit other countries. This expanded initiative will encompass two complementary activities: (a) technical and methodological assistance in data reporting and data quality management at the facility and/or enterprise level; and (b) sharing experiences in developing and maintaining an integrated system for management of such data. These activities will build upon existing cooperative work between the U.S. EPA and China’s NDRC and will include support for reporting methodology development, technical training and developing data collection and management design materials.
4、溫室氣體排放數據的收集和管理。中美兩國高度重視全經濟範圍溫室氣體排放數據的全面、準確的報告，以便跟蹤減排進展，並用以支持制定和實施減緩政策。中美兩國將基於在該領域的廣泛經驗，合作開展溫室氣體排放數據收集和管理的能力建設。通過雙方合作並與其他各方合作，如世界銀行市場準備夥伴計劃，中美兩國可以創建對其他國家同樣有所助益的模式。該倡議將擴展至兩項補充性活動：（1）對設施和（或）企業一級的數據報告和數據質量管理提供技術性和方法學支持；（2）分享開發和維護數據管理綜合系統方面的經驗。這些活動將建立在中國國家發改委和美國環保署現有合作基礎上，並將包括對報告方法學開發、技術培訓以及編寫溫室氣收集和管理設計材料的支持。

5. Energy efficiency in buildings and industry. The United States and China place a high priority on improving energy efficiency across industry and buildings, and recognize that there is significant scope for reducing emissions and costs through comprehensive efforts to improve energy efficiency while fostering economic growth. Indeed, work is already underway in this area under the Energy Efficiency Action Plan of the U.S.-China Ten Year Framework for Cooperation on Energy and the Environment. Both sides commit to intensify their efforts, with an initial enhanced focus on promoting energy efficiency of buildings. We will engage the private sector and other stakeholders in both the United States and China to further enhance existing work to significantly reduce energy use in buildings and industry in each country, including through the implementation of innovative financing methods. This work will include cooperation on: energy efficiency standards and testing for commercial, residential, and manufacturing buildings; identifying the top ten energy efficient technologies and best practices for industry; and further development of energy savings performance contracting in China. This enhanced work plan will be discussed at the next U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Forum, to be held in Washington, D.C. in September 2013.
5、建築和工業領域的能效。中美兩國高度重視提高工業和建築領域的能效。雙方認識到，通過全面努力提高能效不僅能大幅減少排放、降低成本，還能促進經濟增長。《中美能源環境十年合作框架》下的能效行動計劃確實正在開展這方面的工作。雙方承諾加緊努力，先從重點提高建築能效做起。我們將通過包括實施創新性融資在內的方法，讓中美兩國私營部門和其他利益相關者一道參與，進一步加強現有工作以實現兩國建築領域能源消耗的大幅降低。這項工作包括多方面的合作：商業、住宅、製造業建築的能效標準和測試，識別工業領域十大能效技術及最佳實踐，以及在中國進一步發展合同能源管理。這項強化行動計劃將於2013年9月在華盛頓舉行的下次中美能效論壇進行討論。

Following the S&ED, the United States and China will cooperate through all relevant agencies to develop specific implementation plans for these five initiatives. These plans will clearly elaborate the roles of relevant agencies. The implementation plans will be completed by October 2013. Both sides will look to involve other stakeholders, where appropriate, in the development of these plans and in initiative implementation and will promptly initiate outreach to them.
戰略與經濟對話會議之後，中美相關部門將爲這上述五個倡議制定具體的實施計劃，明確各相關部門的職責。實施計劃將於2013年10月完成。雙方將注重吸收其他利益相關方適當參與實施計劃的制定和倡議的實施，並即行開始同他們聯繫。The Working Group also intends to explore other possible areas for bilateral cooperation, including: (a) specific mechanisms for China and the United States to work together in assisting least developed countries, small island developing states, and African countries to build their capacity to address climate change; and (b) supporting appropriate cooperative efforts among our states, provinces, and cities as they develop sub-national carbon markets.
工作組還將探討其他可能的領域開展雙邊合作，包括（1）中美一道努力幫助最不發達國家、小島嶼發展中國家和非洲國家開展應對氣候變化能力建設的具體機制；（2）支持兩國省、州和城市在建立地方碳市場過程中開展適當合作。

Enhanced policy dialogue
加強相關政策對話

The Working Group emphasizes the importance of the climate change policy dialogue established under the 2009 MOU to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and the role it has played in enhancing mutual understanding and exchange of ideas at various critical moments in the multilateral negotiation process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Recognizing the imperative of negotiating a robust and effective post-2020 climate agreement as well as the importance of our own constructive contributions for the success of such negotiations, the United States and China resolve to work closely with other countries in developing this agreement in the period prior to its scheduled completion in 2015. In this regard, we intend to enhance and deepen our policy dialogue on all aspects of this agreement through more frequent and intensified bilateral consultation at all levels.
工作組強調2009年《加強氣候變化、能源和環境合作的諒解備忘錄》所建立氣候變化政策對話的重要性，強調政策對話在《聯合國氣候變化框架公約》（簡稱“《公約》”）多邊談判進程中的若干關鍵時刻起到了增進雙方相互理解和交換意見的重要作用。中美兩國認識到有必要談判達成一項有力、有效的2020年後氣候協議，認識到我們兩國建設性貢獻對談判取得成功的重要性，決心在談判於2015年達成協議之前這段時間與其他國家一道密切協作。因此，我們雙方將通過在各個層面開展更經常、緊密的雙邊磋商，就這一協議涉及的所有方面問題加強並深化政策對話。

The Working Group also recommends strengthening our bilateral dialogue related to domestic climate policy to enhance mutual understanding of each other’s domestic efforts in responding to climate change and to enhance our mutual confidence. This dialogue would include topics such as the role of regulation, lessons learned from sub-national developments on carbon trading and carbon pricing programs, and various other policy instruments to help promote low-carbon growth, increase energy security, and combat climate change.
工作組還建議加強雙方關於國內氣候政策的雙邊對話，以加深彼此國內開展的應對氣候變化行動的相互瞭解並增進雙方的互信。對話涉及的議題包括管控措施的作用、地方碳交易和碳價方案的進展情況、有助於推進低碳增長提高能源安全和應對氣候變化的各種政策工具。

Wherever possible, our policy dialogue should seek to include expertise from all sectors of society and provide incentives for engagement at the sub-national level as well as by business, research institutions, think tanks, academia, and civil society.
雙方政策對話還應儘可能地尋求吸納社會各方面的專長，鼓勵地方層面及商界、研究機構、智庫、學術界和民間組織的參與。

Additionally, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping made the announcement on June 8, 2013 that the United States and China agreed to work together and with other countries through multilateral approaches that include using the expertise and institutions of the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, while continuing to include HFCs within the scope of UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol provisions for accounting and reporting of emissions. The Working Group will work effectively to carry forward this effort.
此外，習近平主席和巴拉克·奧巴馬總統於2013年6月8日宣佈，中美雙方同意共同並與其他國家合作，通過利用包括《蒙特利爾議定書》的專長和機制在內的多邊方式來逐步削減氫氟碳化物的生產和消費，同時繼續把氫氟碳化物包括在《公約》及其《京都議定書》有關排放報告和計量條款範圍內。工作組將對此予以有效推進。

Role of the Working Group
工作組的作用

The Working Group has already played an important role in advancing concrete collaboration and mutual trust between the two countries on climate change. The Working Group is intended to continue to serve as a high-level forum to coordinate the new action initiatives outlined in this Report, develop recommendations for new action initiatives and enhance the policy dialogue on the multilateral climate negotiations process as well as on domestic climate policy in the two countries. The Working Group will meet at least twice per year and report annually to the S&ED.
工作組已在推動兩國在氣候變化領域開展具體合作、增進互信方面起到重要作用。工作組將繼續作爲一個高層平臺，協調本報告中所列出的新的行動倡議，就新的行動倡議提出建議，加強兩國關於多邊氣候談判進程和國內氣候政策的政策對話。工作組將每年至少舉行兩次會議，並每年向戰略與經濟對話報告工作。

U.S.-China Joint Statement on Climate Change
中美氣候變化聯合聲明

April 13, 2013
2013年4月13日

The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China recognize that the increasing dangers presented by climate change measured against the inadequacy of the global response requires a more focused and urgent initiative. The two sides have been engaged in constructive discussions through various channels over several years bilaterally and multilaterally, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process and the Major Economies Forum. In addition, both sides consider that the overwhelming scientific consensus regarding climate change constitutes a compelling call to action crucial to having a global impact on climate change.
中華人民共和國和美利堅合衆國認識到，對比日益加劇的氣候變化危害和全球應對努力的不足，需要一個更具針對性的緊急倡議。過去幾年裏，雙方通過雙邊和多邊渠道，包括在聯合國氣候變化框架公約進程和經濟大國論壇下，開展了富有建設性的討論。雙方還認爲，關於氣候變化強有力的科學共識強烈要求採取對氣候變化有全球性影響的重大行動。

The two countries took special note of the overwhelming scientific consensus about anthropogenic climate change and its worsening impacts, including the sharp rise in global average temperatures over the past century, the alarming acidification of our oceans, the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice, and the striking incidence of extreme weather events occurring all over the world. Both sides recognize that, given the latest scientific understanding of accelerating climate change and the urgent need to intensify global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, forceful, nationally appropriate action by the United States and China – including large-scale cooperative action – is more critical than ever. Such action is crucial both to contain climate change and to set the kind of powerful example that can inspire the world.
中美兩國特別注意到，對於人爲氣候變化及其日益惡化的影響已形成強有力的科學共識，包括過去一百年全球平均溫度顯著上升、海洋酸化令人擔憂、北冰洋海冰迅速消失，以及世界各地極端天氣事件頻發。雙方都認識到，有鑑於氣候變化不斷加速的最新科學認識和加強全球溫室氣體減排努力的緊迫需要，中美兩國採取強有力的國內適當行動，包括大規模的合作行動，比以往任何時候都至關重要。這些行動對於遏制氣候變化和樹立可以鼓舞世界的強有力榜樣，都是極爲重要的。

In order to achieve this goal of elevating the climate change challenge as a higher priority, the two countries will initiate a Climate Change Working Group in anticipation of the 2013 Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED). In keeping with the vision shared by the leaders of the two countries, the Working Group will begin immediately to determine and finalize ways in which they can advance cooperation on technology, research, conservation, and alternative and renewable energy. They will place this initiative on a faster track through the S&ED next slated to meet this summer. The Working Group will be led by Mr. Todd Stern, U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change and Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman, the National Development and Reform Commission. The purpose of the Climate Change Working Group will be to make preparations for the S&ED by taking stock of existing cooperation related to climate change, and the potential to enhance such efforts through the appropriate ministerial channels; and by identifying new areas for concrete, cooperative action to foster green and low-carbon economic growth, including through the use of public-private partnerships, where appropriate. The Climate Change Working Group should include relevant government ministries and will present its findings to the Special Representatives of the leaders for the S&ED at their upcoming meeting.
爲了把氣候變化挑戰提升爲更加優先的事項，中美兩國將在2013年中美戰略與經濟對話舉行之前建立氣候變化工作組。根據兩國領導人的共同願景，工作組將立即着手工作，確定雙方推進技術、研究、節能以及替代能源和可再生能源等領域合作的方式。雙方將通過擬於今年夏天召開的中美戰略與經濟對話加快推進這項工作。工作組將由國家發展和改革委員會副主任解振華和美國氣候變化特使斯特恩擔任組長。氣候變化工作組旨在爲中美戰略與經濟對話做準備，總結梳理氣候變化現有合作情況和通過適當的部長級渠道加強合作的潛在機會，並確定促進綠色低碳經濟增長具體合作行動的新領域，包括適當運用公共和私營部門合作伙伴關係。氣候變化工作組應吸收相關政府部門參加，並於即將召開的中美戰略與經濟對話會議上向兩國元首特別代表報告工作成果。

In light of previous joint statements, existing arrangements, and ongoing work, both sides agree that it is essential to enhance the scale and impact of cooperation on climate change, commensurate with the growing urgency to deal with our shared climate challenges.
考慮到已有聯合聲明、現有相關安排和正在開展的工作，雙方同意，非常有必要提升氣候變化合作的規模和影響力度，以適應不斷增長的解決我們所面臨氣候挑戰的迫切要求。