China, U.S. agree to limit greenhouse gases

IN what is being widely hailed as a major breakthrough and a historical climate deal, world's leading carbon emitters, China and the US, have finally agreed to work together to combat climate change and reduce their emissions well beyond their earlier pledges.

It is certainly a positive step that, for the first time ever, China has pledged to cap its emissions by 2030 and increase its reliance on alternative energy sources like hydro and nuclear power. Meanwhile, the USA has also announced its highest target yet -- to cut its emissions 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

We welcome the news that the two countries, which together produce 45% of the total carbon emission in the world, have abandoned their earlier self-seeking stances to protect their own economies and ecologically destructive practices at the cost of irreparable damage to world ecology and have been able to reach an agreement, after years of categorical refusal to work together to reduce their contributions to global warming

However, we must remember that climate change is an urgent matter, especially for countries like Bangladesh, and global leaders and top carbon emitters should do more to pull their weight in the fight against climate change, particularly in next year's crucial climate change talks in Paris. Emerging economies like India, which have done little so far, should also make concrete pledges to lead the fight against climate change in the region.