THE UNITED STATES’ withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, newly announced by US President Donald Trump, formally opens space for Chinese and European leadership on the issue that has been expanding ever since candidate Trump denounced climate change as a Chinese hoax designed to weaken US industry.
Having committed on the campaign trail to withdrawing the United States from the deal within 100 days of taking office, Trump now says he will make good on that promise and seek renegotiation of the accord on terms that are not as “draconian” for the United States.
The United States accounts for more than 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, a share exceeded only by China. Its withdrawal from an agreement that depends on the largest polluters making some of the deepest cuts to emissions inevitably weakens the accord’s chances of success.
During a trip to Germany, Prime Minister Li Keqiang reiterated ahead of Trump’s announcement Beijing’s commitment to the accord. China and the European Union are expected to issue a joint statement to bolster it in the light of Trump’s abandonment (Update: they did). They are likely to reaffirm their joint commitment to cut back on fossil fuels, develop new green technologies and raise $100 billion a year by 2020 to help poorer countries cut their emissions.
Beijing’s position on climate change has swung through 180 degrees. Once considering international efforts to get it to limit carbon emissions to be an unwanted interference in its internal affairs, China has since become a strong proponent of efforts to halt global warming — and to develop global leadership in climate mitigation technologies.
Li will be familiar with the smog-choked skies above Beijing and a host of other cities (the picture above is of Shanghai). And also with the increasing popular unease at environmental degradation. He made a point of saying that the Paris accord was in China’s self-interest. Certainly climate change constitutes not just a health challenge to authorities but also an economic and political threat to the Party.
However, it also offers Beijing a tremendous geopolitical opportunity. By not just rejecting the Paris accord but reneging on commitments, Trump hands China an opening to take on global leadership on what may well prove to be the defining issue of the century. Such an offer will not be refused.
China Bystander 