Can the US and China honor their commitment to reduce carbon emissions?

The leaders of the two worst polluting nations on Earth shook on a historic deal Wednesday, pledging to dramatically cut carbon emissions over the next 20 years.

President Barack Obama agreed to cut back U.S. emissions by 2025 by more than a quarter from 2005 levels.

President Xi Jinping made an unprecedented promise to reduce China’s emissions by 2030, possibly sooner. “We have agreed to promote international negotiations on climate change and to attain an agreement during the 2015 summit in Paris, then deepen substantial cooperation in the field of clean energy and areas of environmental protection,” he said.

Though China’s smog is sometimes bad enough to essentially close down cities and towns, the government has been hesitant to curb its pollution as its economy continues to rapidly grow.

“I commend President Xi, his team and the Chinese government for the commitment they are making to slow, peak and then reverse China’s carbon emissions,” said Obama.

But not everyone in the U.S. is celebrating. Congressional Republicans warn that the deal sets up an impossible feat for America’s next president. The U.S. is already working to bring emissions down 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. To hold to Wednesday’s pledge, the U.S. will need to double its efforts. It’s something Obama thinks he can do without Congress. 

“I was particularly distressed about the deal apparently reached by the Chinese on his trip. Which is — as I read the agreement — requires the Chinese to do nothing at all for 16 years. While these carbon emission regulations are creating havoc in my state and in other states around the country,” said Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., likely the next Senate majority leader.

But in Beijing it was a breakthrough trip for both leaders. China burnished its standing on the world stage by negotiating with the U.S. In addition to CO2 emissions, Obama and Xi reached noteworthy accords on other issues, including a new visa program, more trade and increased military cooperation. 

Are these emission reduction targets realistic? How will they be enforced?

How big of an accomplishment is this for Obama? How significant of a milestone is this in U.S.-China relations?

Will this spur the rest of the world to action at the climate talks in Paris next year?  

We consulted a panel of experts for the Inside Story