US and Germany launch climate partnership

The U.S. and Germany on Thursday launched a partnership to collaborate on climate issues. 

A fact sheet released by the White House said that the countries will work together to raise global climate ambition, collaborate on developing and deploying energy technologies and boost clean energy in developing countries. 

“The United States and Germany will invest in a sustainable economy that drives inclusive growth, supports communities, and creates good jobs and a healthy environment on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond,” the fact sheet said. 

The initiative came amid German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to the White House on Thursday.

The news from the countries also comes after a Berlin pursued a Russian natural gas pipeline, a point of contention between the allies.  

Nevertheless, Germany and the U.S., which are among the world’s largest carbon dioxide emitters, set up the partnership that will be co-chaired by climate envoy John Kerry, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Germany’s minister of economic affairs and energy and the European nation’s minister for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety. 

As part of their global ambition push, the U.S. and Germany will coordinate on climate and trade agendas and mobilize sustainable development financing. 

In the technology space, they will collaborate on renewable energy advancements, clean hydrogen technologies, efficiency advancements and electric vehicle adoption. 

They will also seek to mobilize investment in Central and Eastern European countries such as Ukraine as well as South and Southeast Asia.