China Aspires to be an Environmental Leader: How Should the Rest of the World Engage?

Abstract

China has transformed from a laggard to a rising leader of environmental governance. It plays a unique and essential role in promoting environmental cooperation, financing and implementing global green infrastructure, and generating and disseminating environmental technology and scientific knowledge. On each front, global progress cannot be made without China, especially with the US’ retreat from global leadership under the second Trump presidency. In this article, we consider China's concrete, multifaceted environmental efforts over the last decade and show China's various motives: it is partly responding to critiques of its massive environmental footprint; partly pursuing greater respect as a responsible global power; and partly seeking economic and political gains through clean energy transition, a greener planet, and a more stable climate. We call for new approaches to engaging China's aspiration to become a global environmental leader, while asserting clear expectations and responsibilities in that role.