Chinese Climate Leadership: Feign or Future?

Abstract

As industrial civilization confronts the devastating consequences of global climate change, the difficult choices surrounding its solutions have only become more complicated following the election of President Donald Trump and his recent declaration of intent to exit the Paris Climate Accord. This paper analyzes whether China is prepared and credible to fill the void left by the US abdicating its role as global climate leader by focusing on whether China’s domestic efforts are sufficient to project a sense of both willingness and capability to be the world’s foremost authority on climate change policy. This article ultimately determines that China is both ready and willing to act as the preeminent climate power, despite imperfections in domestic energy and environment policy