Mexico pledges 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas, soot emissions by 2030 for climate talks

MEXICO CITY – Mexico has become the first developing nation to submit pollutant reduction goals for next fall's Paris climate change talks, pledging to cut greenhouse gas and black carbon emissions 25 percent by 2030.

Activists and the U.S. government praised Mexico's announcement Friday, and the White House said the two countries will soon launch a "high-level bilateral clean energy and climate change policy task force."

The joint U.S.-Mexico effort will focus on "clean energy, grid modernizations, appliance standards and energy efficiency" as well as more fuel-efficient vehicle fleets.

Black carbon is essentially soot produced by burning wood, dung, coal and some diesel fuels.

More countries are expected to announce pledges before the Nov. 30-Dec. 11 climate conference in Paris.