Decoding China’s Climate and Energy Policy Post-Copenhagen

Although China was often blamed for the muddled outcome of the 2009 Copenhagen talks, its position on how to tackle climate change might not be so far from the West’s. Much reporting on Copenhagen portrayed China as being hostile to rules—considered essential by the West—that would hold it accountable through independent verification of its greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, China’s position on this issue and its opposition to legally binding targets should not be confused for a lack of political will or action to address climate change at home. U.S. action was essential for a legally binding climate agreement that included all major economies, but it might not be sufficient: China would join such an agreement when the time is right for China. In the meantime, the United States and Europe had to continue to pursue clean energy and climate cooperation in forums outside the UN and share their best practices on shifting to a low-carbon economy. China’s successes in this area had to be recognized, encouraged, and replicated.