Excerpts cross-posted from WhiteHouse.gov

President Obama has announced a new target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. 

Previously, in 2009, President Obama had set a goal to cut U.S. emissions in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020.

The new U.S. goal will double the pace of carbon pollution reduction from 1.2% per year on average during the 2005-2020 period to 2.3-2.8% per year on average between 2020 and 2025. 

The new target is grounded in intensive analysis of cost-effective carbon pollution reductions achievable under existing law and will keep the United States on the right trajectory to achieve deep economy-wide reductions on the order of 80% by 2050.

The United States will submit its 2025 target to the Framework Convention on Climate Change as an “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution” no later than the first quarter of 2015.

The new 2020-2025 target is part of a U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change and Clean Energy Cooperation, with agreements on several matters including the Launch of a Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Initiative under the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group.  Under the initiative, the two countries will share city-level experiences with planning, policies, and use of technologies for sustainable, resilient, low-carbon growth.  This initiative will eventually include demonstrations of new technologies for smart infrastructure for urbanization.  As a first step, the United States and China will convene a Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities “Summit” where leading cities from both countries will share best practices, set new goals, and celebrate city-level leadership.

The entire announcement is available here.