The NCSD's core platform presently consists of three primary program areas of focus, which address issues relating to Land, Air and Water. The NCSD works to promote a sustainable low carbon economy primarily through the implementation of demonstration projects designed to reduce carbon emissions from a host of industry sectors by advancing energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy technologies and sound and sustainable environmental policies and practices.

The NCSD and the China Clean Development Mechanism Fund Management Center (“CDM Fund”), a Chinese not-for-profit organization established by the Ministry of Finance of China, in recognition of the challenges and opportunities presented by the 3Es, have jointly launched the China-US Low Carbon Development Cooperation Program (“China-US Program”). The China-US Program was officially launched in Washington D.C. on November 10th, 2009. The NCSD works to promote a sustainable low carbon economy primarily through the implementation of demonstration projects designed to reduce carbon emissions from a host of industry sectors by advancing energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy technologies and sound and sustainable environmental policies and practices. The primary geographic focus of the China-US Program is on cross-border opportunities and cooperation between the United States and China, the two largest economies in the world.

The purpose of the China-U.S. Program is to explore and develop innovative non-governmental cooperation channels and market-based mechanisms, to facilitate governmental and business cooperation between China and the US, and to promote practical bilateral cooperation on low carbon development through the implementation of demonstration projects. The objective of the China-U.S. Program is to promote practical efforts through demonstration projects that will guide in the formulation of a comprehensive, market-based policy framework to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable low carbon economic development, that creates sustainable jobs and puts the two largest emitting countries on course toward a sustainable energy future.

The NCSD will harness the resources and concrete efforts of Chinese and U.S. government-based agencies, business, industry, academia and non-profit communities of both countries and channel them into public-private initiatives promoting capacity building, sustainable economic development and investment projects, and practical applications in low carbon, climate resilience and clean-energy technologies. The China-U.S. Program is composed of two on-going phases:

• Phase One - Policy Study, Capacity Building and Public Awareness: Support global policy study to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also supporting national, state and regional programs; and
• Phase Two - Financial Cooperation and Project Investment Cooperation: Climate policy will strengthen both China’s and America's energy and environmental security and improve the long-term prospects for economic growth of both countries. As demonstrated by a growing body of research and on-the-ground experience, climate policy, if done well, can help to create jobs and spur new industries. For example, a recent study found that California has created 1.5 million net new jobs and grown its economy by over $76 billion annually through policies to reduce fossil fuel dependence. Carbon cap-and-trade, especially when married with complementary energy policies, is a win-win-win for energy security, the economy, and the environment.

For more program information on our China-US Low Carbon Program, please contact:

USA Office: Ms. Lisa Holmqvist at 212-634-5260 or lisah@ncsdusa.org

China Office: Ms. Sunny Fu at 86-10-6561-1089 Ext. 201 or sfu@ncsdusa.org