The main aspects of the accord are as follows:

Creation of a US-China Clean Energy Research Center. It will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by teams of scientists and engineers from both countries. Initial research priorities will be on building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles. It will also serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country. China and the US will each provide $75m over five years in public and private funding to support the center.

Launch of a US-China electric vehicles initiative. This will include joint standards development, demonstration projects in more than a dozen cities, technical planning and public education projects.

Obama and Hu emphasized their countries’ strong interest in accelerating the deployment of electric vehicles in order to reduce oil dependence, cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic growth.

The third initiative is a US-China energy efficiency action plan. The two countries will work together to improve energy efficiency of buildings, industrial facilities, and consumer appliances. A bilateral energy efficiency forum will be held each year.

U.S. and Chinese officials will work together and with the private sector to develop energy efficient building codes and rating systems; benchmark industrial energy efficiency; train building inspectors and energy efficiency auditors for industrial facilities; and harmonize test procedures and performance metrics for energy efficient consumer products.

The fourth initiative is a renewable energy partnership by which the US and China will develop “roadmaps” for widespread renewable energy deployment in both countries. It will also provide technical and analytical resources to states and regions in both countries to support renewable energy deployment, and encourage bilateral partnerships at the local level to share experience and best practices.

A new Advanced Grid Working Group will bring together US and Chinese policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and civil society to develop strategies for grid modernization in both countries. A new U.S.-China Renewable Energy Forum will be held annually.

Coal in the 21st century. This initiative will promote cooperation on cleaner uses of coal, including large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects. Through the new U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, the two countries are launching a program of technical cooperation to bring teams of U.S. and Chinese scientists and engineers together in developing clean coal and CCS technologies.

The two governments are also actively engaging industry, academia, and civil society in advancing clean coal and CCS solutions.

A shale gas initiative will use experience gained in the US to assess China’s shale gas potential. It will also promote environmentally-sustainable development of shale gas resources; conduct joint technical studies to accelerate development of shale gas resources in China, and promote shale gas investment in China through the U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum.

The last initiative is creation of a US-China energy cooperation program. It will leverage private sector resources for project development work in China across a broad array of clean energy projects, to the benefit of both nations. More than 22 companies are founding members of the programme.

It will include collaborative projects on renewable energy, smart grid, clean transportation, green building, clean coal, combined heat and power, and energy efficiency