California and China have signed an agreement to work together on climate change and clean energy technologies.

The Government of California and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology aim to co-operate on emissions trading and explore other “climate positive” trade and investment opportunities.

They have also agreed to establish the California-China Clean Technology Partnership, designed to drive innovation and commercialisation in areas such as carbon capture and storage, clean energy and advanced information technology that could help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

California Governor Jerry Brown said: “The challenges are big but so too is the commitment – the commitment of Jiangsu Province with California and China with the people of America. We’re going to get it done. Nothing will stop us.

“Green is not only gold, green is our future – China, California and America and the other countries of the world are all working for the prosperity of the people.”

He added the failure of leadership from the US is “only temporary” and that science and the market would be required to get past it.

His comments come as the President Donald Trump announced the US would pull out of the Paris climate agreement.