( CNN ) In baseball , there 's a traditional comeback after a tough season : `` Wait 'til next year ! '' For climate change `` next year '' is now . This year is the time and the United Nations ' international climate negotiations in Paris in December are the place to secure strong global agreement to curb heat-trapping emissions . A successful climate pact will send a signal around the world that a shift to a low-carbon economy is underway . The United States has made clear that it is ready to step up to the plate on climate change . The U.S. administration on Tuesday unveiled details about its proposal to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 26 % to 28 % below 2005 levels by 2025 . This common-sense and achievable plan to decarbonize the U.S. economy will result in significant cost savings from cleaner technologies and create more American energy jobs to power our homes and businesses . This is an area where the United States needs to lead , and doing so will create a better planet for our children and a more prosperous future for our country . The United States is n't alone in this global climate effort . In a landmark joint announcement with the United States in November , China unveiled its intent to peak its carbon emissions around 2030 and to double its share of zero-carbon energy to 20 % . This shift will require substantial effort from China to retool its economy , increase investment in renewable energy and divest from coal . As the world 's No . 1 investor in renewable energy , China has already taken important steps forward . At the same time , India has set the audacious goal of installing 100 gigawatts of solar power capacity by 2022 , a 30-fold increase from current levels and eight times more solar capacity than the United States has today . Cities and corporations are joining in as well . More than 200 cities , home to 436 million people , have voluntarily committed to saving 13 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury . And more than a thousand companies , along with 73 countries , voiced support for putting a price on carbon and moving to cleaner energy technologies . Leading companies , like Apple and Google , are making major bets on renewable energy . And another 25 businesses have signed onto the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers ' Principles—these companies represent energy demand equal to more than 1 million homes . Increasing examples demonstrate that strong climate action can be good for the economy . For instance , renewable sources now provide one-fifth of the world 's electricity , while solar manufacturing costs have dropped 80 % in the last seven years . Wind turbines installed now are 100 times better at generating power than turbines were 30 years ago . Clean technology investments surged to $ 310 billion last year . In the United States , carbon emissions fell by 10 % from 2007 to 2013 , the largest absolute emissions reduction recorded , even as the United States has recovered from the Great Recession . Many of these shifts are unprecedented and could not have been anticipated even five years ago . Yet these trends alone are not enough to counter the mounting climate-related impacts that we are already seeing . A global climate agreement in Paris this December can send more signals to markets and drive more ambitious climate action for decades to come . A Paris agreement would represent a new form of international cooperation and a fundamental change in the global approach to climate action — a shift from burden-sharing to the creation of mutual opportunities ; from cost to investment ; from economic threat to a spur to economic development . With the United States showing the way , and with cooperation from other countries , businesses , investors , cities and citizens , we can achieve a prosperous and secure future for all . Each year , baseball returns and hope springs eternal . Now , it 's time for all countries to get in the game .
Bill Richardson : U.S announced plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26 % to 28 % below 2025 levels by 2005 . He says China , India , major corporations , cities among those already setting goals for cutting emissions . U.S. must lead in this effort .