News & Activity

LOS ANGELES—Mayor Eric Garcetti today welcomed mayors, governors and provincial leaders from across the U.S. and China to Los Angeles to day one of the first official convening between the two countries to address climate change. The Summit is the first official convening of U.S. and Chinese subnational leaders on climate change under the Climate Change Working Group.

“When Presidents Obama and Xi came together to make their historic accord, it was a hinge of history: a moment in time when we could say that two nations stepped up not to point fingers, not ask questions, but to commit to world-changing directives,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “They have asked us at the local and state level to take the torch and carry it forward — to build on it, to be even more ambitious, and to specify our actions. At this Summit, we have answered that call to action with bold commitments to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.”

As the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases on the planet, leaders from the U.S. and China agreed to share best practices for reducing emissions across industry sectors. During the morning session of the Summit, Mayor Eric Garcetti signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Beijing to share best practices to reduce emissions from the construction of green building and for oceangoing vessels at berth in their respective ports.

In addition, the City of Los Angeles and the City of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province announced that they are the first cities to endorse the Subnational Global Climate Leadership Memorandum of Understanding, led by California Governor Jerry Brown, who was also in attendance and spoke at the Summit on Tuesday.

The U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit will reconvene on Wednesday, Sept. 16 in Los Angeles with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden scheduled to visit and provide closing remarks.

###