Officials from China and the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday committing the two countries to raising public awareness about climate change.

The two year program, known as “Climate Cool”, is jointly sponsored by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center and the British Council. It will use the enthusiasm of young people to educate the public about climate change.

At the launch ceremony, UK Climate Change and Energy Minister Mr. Ed Miliband told China.org.cn: “We need to raise people’s awareness about the threat of climate change. It [the Climate Cool program] is a very important initiative to educate young people to work together to combat climate change.”

Miliband sees China as a potential climate-fighting pioneer with its own solutions and said he hoped China would set voluntary targets to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.

“China, as an emerging great power, has the ability not only to act but to lead, and to exert great influence and energize others around the world,” he said.