China and EU agree joint work on climate action

China and the European Union will collaborate on climate action with the aim of reaching key targets in advance of the crucial United Nations climate summit in Paris in 2015.

They pledged to "strengthen cooperation" in a joint statement issued after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Brussels and will commit to "credible and verifiable domestic action" on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), chemicals used in fridges and air conditioners with global warming potential 11,700 times that of CO2 will be targeted as part of the collaboration.

They also called on all countries to present their contributions to the international climate framework well in advance of the Paris UN Climate Change Conference that will take place at the end of 2015.

China has made significant moves to address environmental concerns in its latest five-year plan, which commits the country to spend more than CN¥5 trillion (US$817 billion) in environmental protection from 2011 to 2015.

Dangerous levels of smog are affecting many major cities in China and prompted President Xi and government officials moved to "declare war" on pollution at the annual parliamentary sessions in March.

China has also signed a deal with the US to phase out HFCs.

Changhua Wu, greater China director of The Climate Group, said: "It is very encouraging to see China and the EU publicly commit to tackle climate change and to work towards the low carbon future which all citizens need. Paris 2015 will be a seminal event in the climate change trajectory but it is over a year away. It is vitally important that leaders act now to secure a better future for us. There is no time to waste.”