China and US strike 'historic' greenhouse gas emissions deal

World's two largest polluters pledge to cap carbon emissions ahead of major climate talks next year

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping
(Image credit: GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty)

China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged for the first time to cap its carbon emissions as part of an "historic" deal with US President Barack Obama

The country's leader Xi Jinping has not set a specific target, but said emissions would be reduced by 2030 or earlier. He also set a goal to increase the proportion of non-fossil fuels to 20 per cent of China's energy mix over the next 15 years.

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