Among the several tacks that Obama and Co. are taking on climate change, one very critical one is in international relations. The State Department has named its envoy on climate change, Todd Stern, and the Secretary of State is heading to Asia next week for extensive meetings in Japan, Indonesia, Korea and China. Secretary Clinton “…will be discussing common approaches to the challenges facing the international community” very much including climate change. All of those countries have a huge stake in the outcome of the negotiations in Copenhagen, none more so than China.
Geoffrey Lean at “The Independent” has just come out with a two-part analysis of the potential for quantum leaps in the US-China relationship. See articles here and here. It’s hyperbole, perhaps, but there are some high hopes expressed here: “Maybe we are on the brink of one of those rare moments that transform the world for the better. For the Obama administration’s moves to forge a climate partnership with China offer much the best chance yet of averting the most serious crisis civilisation has faced.”
Meanwhile, Andy Revkin over at his “NY Times” blog “Dot Earth” zeroed in last week on Clinton’s trip and the importance of China in the scheme of things. He says here that “The visit to China meshes with early signals sent recently by President Obama’s nascent energy and climate team about the importance of working with the industrializing giant on these entwined issues.”
Where’s China been and where are they going? For some background, see this from me last summer. When I wrote about an event I attended recently on The Melting Himalayas, I opined that “…the US (finally) and Europe will lead on climate change and that China and the rest of the world will come along.” It appears that the leadership of which I spoke is forthcoming from the Obama administration. I continue to believe that China will do the right thing, given the proper international and bilateral frameworks.
