Is a U.S.-China climate deal feasible?
I think that a deal is in reach, and that we’ll see something substantive and serious in the fall. This moment is a historic opportunity to forge a climate partnership with China, as a result of the convergence of three key factors: new climate leadership in the United States, China’s recognition of the serious threat that climate change represents for its future, and the hard work of specialists and leaders in both countries to make climate change cooperation a reality. The Chinese government takes the science of climate change seriously, and they are very practical. If we make it in their interest to cooperate with us, they will do so. Why is a U.S.–China agreement important? Together China and the United States produce 40 percent of emissions and their actions will determine whether efforts to stop climate change succeed or fail. If they continue to blame each other and insist that the other act first, any plan adopted by the rest of the world will fail to prevent the catastrophic d
