China, US promise to reduce emissions

Historic step expected to get more countries to agree on deal in 2015

China and the United States made an unprecedented joint pledge on Wednesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions, a historic step that is expected to drive more countries on board to negotiate a new agreement in Paris next year.

China announced it intends to achieve peaking of carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and to make its best effort to peak early, according to a joint announcement made by President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama in Beijing on Wednesday.