Dear Presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama,
The Members of the Club de Madrid, more than 100 democratic, former Heads of State and Government from over 65 countries, working together to foster democratic values and leadership worldwide, would like to congratulate you for your extraordinary leadership in the recently announced China-USA Climate Agreement.
Your announcement constitutes the first clear commitment by the two countries that account for 44 per cent of global carbon emissions to collaborate constructively towards the achievement of a robust, universally binding climate agreement in Paris in 2015 and global goal of transitioning to low-carbon economies. Together, the US pledge to reduce emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 level by 2025, and the Chinese commitment to peak CO2 emissions and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20% by 2030 can make a tremendous difference in the achievement of global warming goals. They are significant and timely examples for the world and an excellent contribution to the success of Climate Negotiations. You are leading by example, an approach is at the very essence of our work within the Club de Madrid, and we sincerely and enthusiastically congratulate you.
Your pledges and the accent you have placed on the attainment of an ambitious 2015 agreement, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, can infuse the global climate negotiations with a momentum that will inspire other countries to come forward, overcome major impediments and show that a strong, universal and binding climate agreement is possible in Paris 2015.
Today, at the start of the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Club de Madrid congratulates you on your climate leadership and urges you to “continue to work to increase ambition over time”.
We will follow your climate actions with interest and stand ready to contribute to and support the Climate Negotiations and the climate ambitions of your countries and the entire planet from our own trenches.
