A Green World Order with Chinese Characteristics: Implications for Global Climate Cooperation

Abstract

This article examines how China’s vision of a green world order affects global climate cooperation. It argues that China’s global green vision is technology driven, combining green industrial policy with geopolitical ambitions. While not fundamentally different from the Western vision, China’s strategy seeks to reposition the country at the center of the order through leadership in green technologies and by geopolitically leveraging its vision in international politics. This global green vision thus extends beyond climate mitigation, entering the realm of geopolitical competition and ultimately undermining international climate cooperation. Theoretically, the article develops a world-ordering perspective grounded in the concept of global green visions, demonstrating that green industrial policy can function not only as a domestic strategy but also as an instrument of international order building. Empirically, the analysis draws on a qualitative content analysis of primary sources, including official documents and semistructured expert interviews.