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The National Assembly Futures Institute publishes reports that predict and analyze the changes in the future environment based on a comprehensive perspective, and derive mid- to long-term national development strategies in consideration of the preferences of the citizens
(21-20) Climate Change and International Politics: U.S.-China relations and International climate cooperation

Date : 2021-12-31 item : Research Report 21-20 P.I : Cho Haein

(21-20) Climate Change and International Politics:  U.S.-China relations and International climate cooperation

Climate change is a global phenomenon that has borderless effects, meaning that it requires international cooperation and collective efforts from around the world. Thus, the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China, are always at the center of discussions on international climate cooperation.

Bridging the divide between the two nations is key to global climate cooperation. In this sense, this year was remarkable insofar as the two made ambitious promises to battle against climate change. China took a very proactive approach by pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, and the United States (US) returned to the Paris Agreement and made an executive order to stop fossil fuel subsidies.

Above all, in April 2021, the US and China jointly announced a commitment to global cooperation for climate change.

The European Union (EU) welcomed the return of the US to the Paris Agreement, and encourages cooperation between China and the US. It is yet not known to what extent the EU, China, and the US share common ground in the field of trade rules that would allow such protection to be introduced. The EU shares with China the fight against poverty, which is expected to give rise to a common understanding of how to bridge financing gaps.

India, as the third largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, has discussed the competition in climate leadership between the US and China. While the Biden administration makes efforts to reclaim the US’s leadership on climate action, China and India are stepping up and becoming global climate leaders. India’s 2070 net zero pledge puts pressure on the US and China to act more ambitiously to deliver on their stated commitments.

As a middle-power country, Indonesia considers the motivations of the two countries as inseparable from economic and geostrategic interests. They expect to see productive competition rooted in the current rivalry, tension, and competitiveness between the two countries. Indonesia regards China as a role model in terms of balancing economic growth and environmental protection. Indonesia plans to use multilateral platforms to cooperate and become involved with diverse international counterparts for climate change cooperation.

Russia indicates that despite the rivalry between the US and China, there certainly are shared intentions for bilateral cooperation toward climate change actions. Both countries could benefit from this, and Russia could still continue to express its interest in cooperating with the US and China to address diverse climate-related areas. Russia agrees that climate change requires international-level efforts. Thus, multilateral venues such as the United Nations (UN), G20, EU, and BRICS, and bilateral actions with the US or China are highlighted.

Korea has the chance to lead climate change efforts at an international level in both bilateral and multilateral settings. Given that carbon pricing would be applied, there is an emphasis on maintaining the resilience of the US–Korea supply chain. Similarly, strengthening trade ties with China is key for both economic development and low-carbon transitions. Moreover, building partnerships with neighboring countries through multilateral platforms and regional cooperation would be necessary not only to resolve trade issues, but also to foster international climate cooperation.