In the lead up to multi-party talks at COP15 in a little more than a week, it’s easy to forget the importance of bilateral agreements and talks that will inevitably occur before and after whatever takes place at Copenhagen. By far, the most important bilateral relationship is that between China and the United States. As the two single largest greenhouse-gas-emitting states, whatever is agreed on between the two will set the stage for the rest of the world to follow. So, although President Obama met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Nov. 16 and came up with many joint efforts soon to be underway, the lack of any new, game-changing targets (only promises by Pres. Obama of a 17% 2005-level GHG reduction by 2020 and by Pres. Hu to merely reduce the rate at which emissions grow) leaves some to be desired. Nonetheless, the fact that the U.S. and China are working together and also establishing joint programs definitely leaves room for optimism, particularly if the talks at Copenhagen don’t go as well as we’d all hope.