Jennifer L. Turner is coordinator of the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Below is her written testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hearing on China’s Energy Consumption and Opportunities for U.S.-China Cooperation to Address the Effects of China’s Energy Use, June 14-15, 2007. From USCC’s website:

… All of these progressive policy developments and growing international assistance in China’s energy sector highlight numerous areas in which the U.S. government could become more involved. Notably, despite the alarming environmental degradation and human health trends linked to China’s energy use, energy issues have not occupied a prominent position in U.S.-China relations. To the extent that energy and environmental issues have been considered at all, U.S. policy regarding cooperation with China in these areas has not been sustained or consistent, reflecting tensions in the U.S.-China relationship, disagreements between past administrations and Congress, and the higher priorities given to other issues in the relationship. There are some new opportunities for strengthening Sino-U.S. energy cooperation such as the Sino-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue held in December 2006. This meeting catalyzed a Joint Economic Study that is focusing on identifying cost-effective solutions to improve air quality and energy efficiency in both countries, as well as recommend policies, regulations, and institutions for China to meet its energy efficiency and clean energy targets in its Eleventh Five-Year Plan. SED also prompted the renewal of the Sino-U.S. Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which the Department of Energy had allowed to expire in February 2005. If the U.S. government prioritizes energy cooperation with China there are not only environmental and human health benefits globally, but such collaboration could play an important role in building up good will and offsetting tensions in other parts of the Sino-U.S. relationship. [Full Text]