(KGTV) - California and China are now joining together to develop green technologies, following criticism by both parties of President Donald Trump's decision to exit the Paris Accord aimed at addressing climate change.
The Governor's Office announced Tuesday Gov. Jerry Brown and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to discuss technology and trade, and to sign an agreement on behalf of California supporting the advancement of green technologies.
"California is the leading economic state in America and we are also the pioneering state on clean technology, cap and trade, electric vehicles and batteries, but we can't do it alone," Gov. Brown said during a meeting with President Xi.
According to the Governor's Office, the agreement will focus on cooperation in developing low-carbon, energy efficient, and renewable technologies. The two will also work together to curb greenhouse gas emission and on air pollution reduction programs.
"I have proposed that California will cut its greenhouse gases 40 percent below 1990 levels and that we'll have 50 percent of our electricity from renewables. To keep that goal, we need a very close partnership with China - with your businesses, with your provinces, with your universities," the governor continued.
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Wednesday, Gov. Brown is scheduled to cohost the Under2 Clean Energy Forum, which sees members of the Under2 Coalition meet to discuss avenues in curbing climate change and green economies.
The coalition is an international pact between cities, states, and countries working to lower to global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celcius, or 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which the group says is considered "the level of potentially catastrophic consequences."
The full text of the agreement can be read on the Governor's website here.
The meetings come a week after Gov. Brown announced a partnership with the governors of New York and Washington state to adhere to the Paris climate agreement, following President Trump's move to pull the U.S. out of the accord.
RELATED: President Donald Trump announces withdrawal from Paris accord
