WRI Response to US-China Climate Announcement: “Make It a Race to the Top”

The World Resources Institute (WRI) responded to 2014 climate announcements from the U.S. and China, noting the U.S. target of 26-28% emissions reductions by 2025 and China's target to peak emissions around 2030. WRI views these commitments as critical for building momentum toward a global agreement in Paris, while urging both nations to exceed their initial pledges to maximize economic opportunities and climate mitigation.

• U.S. President Barack Obama announced a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. WRI notes this puts the U.S. on a trajectory to reduce emissions by approximately 80 percent by mid-century and is based on what is achievable under current U.S. law.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping announced targets to peak carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy to approximately 20 percent by 2030. WRI describes this as a major development and a shift in position, though it emphasizes that emissions should peak before 2030 to limit the worst climate consequences.
• WRI views these early pledges as a means to create momentum for a global climate agreement in Paris and encourages the U.S. and China to catalyze other countries to announce their own targets.

APA

Steer, A., & Morgan, J. (2014). WRI Response to US-China Climate Announcement: “Make It a Race to the Top”. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-us-china-climate-announcement-make-it-race-top

Chicago

Steer, Andrew, and Jennifer Morgan. WRI Response to US-China Climate Announcement: “Make It a Race to the Top”. World Resources Institute, 2014. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-us-china-climate-announcement-make-it-race-top.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Steer |first1=Andrew |last2=Morgan |first2=Jennifer |title=WRI Response to US-China Climate Announcement: “Make It a Race to the Top” |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=11 November 2014 |url=https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-us-china-climate-announcement-make-it-race-top |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{steer2014wri, author = {Steer, Andrew and Morgan, Jennifer}, title = {{WRI Response to US-China Climate Announcement: “Make It a Race to the Top”}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2014}, month = nov, url = {https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-us-china-climate-announcement-make-it-race-top}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }