Overcoming the Obstacles to U.S.-China Cooperation on Climate Change

Any solution to global warming will require strong efforts by the United States and China, the world’s top two emitters of greenhouse gases. Working together, the two countries can make important progress toward addressing this challenge. Recent developments—including new leadership in the U.S., dire scientific warnings and an aggressive schedule for international negotiations—are dramatically raising the profile of this issue on the U.S.-China bilateral agenda. Yet different histories, cultures and national circumstances create substantial barriers to large-scale cooperation.

On February 26, the Brookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy hosted a discussion on overcoming obstacles to U.S.-China cooperation on climate change, focusing on ways in which cooperation can gain sustained political support in both countries.

Brookings expert Kenneth G. Lieberthal presented the findings of a recent report, Overcoming Obstacles to U.S.-China Cooperation on Climate Change, co-authored with David Sandalow, which identifies key obstacles, provides information about each country’s efforts for the leadership of the other and makes nine recommendations for the future. Siwei Cheng, renowned economist and former Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress, and Angang Hu, Professor at Tsinghua University and Director of the Center for China Study, Chinese Academy of Sciences/Tsinghua University, offered their remarks.