Gathering Momentum for U. S.- China Cooperation on Climate Change

The U. S. and China lead the world in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for more than 40% of worldwide energy-related emissions. The need for the U. S. and China to find common ground on addressing climate change is gaining increasing attention, and there is now hope for reversing the stalemate in which each country blames the other for its lack of stronger action. This article examines recent reports suggesting ways that the U. S. and China can cooperate to address climate change, highlighting common themes including 1) elevating the issue and re-framing it as reform towards a new clean energy economy, 2) mitigating coal emissions through technological improvement and increasing use of renewable energy sources, and 3) strengthening capacity for environmental governance and quantifying GHG emissions. The article examines how such cooperation can contribute towards finding common ground in multilateral negotiations. In particular, the article reviews the current constraints on effective implementation of environmental policy in China and opportunities for enhanced cooperation to contribute to overcoming these constraints. While the U. S. and China view the need to control GHG emissions differently, there has recently been evolution in both countries' views and there are signs of momentum for finding common ground on cooperative activities that could enhance the prospects for successful completion and implementation of an international agreement.