The Kyoto Protocol adopted on December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan extending the1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which commits State Parties to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The treaty put the responsibility on developed countries on the basis that they historically responsible for the existing level of greenhouse gas emissions. The Unites States is one of the signatories to the protocol and when it signs a deal with China that is a major recent contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and non-Annex B party without binding obligation targets to the Protocol becomes a big deal.

After months of talks, the US and China signed a landmark deal on November 11, 2014 committing China to a first ever carbon emission target by 2030. China and the US are the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters today and the agreement to cut carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants is essential to the success of any global treaty. The US expect to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 percent below the 2005 level by 2025 and China will reach carbon emission peak cut by 2030. China will also make a best effort to reach the goal early and increase its share of non-fossil fuels in its energy portfolio.