Politics of Climate Change: A Comparative Study of the Chinese and the US Responses

Abstract

The climate change has menacingly threatened the environmental system due to
emission of greenhouse gasses. On the other hand, the world’s economic infrastructure
mostly has a carbon economy that could collapse if carbon footprint is suddenly
reduced. Due to the inverse relationship between economic interests and climate
change, states are not taking climate catastrophe seriously. Countries like China and the
US, with significant footprints of carbon in the world, have manipulated and abandoned
the climate objectives for economic pursuits. Their responses towards climate change
are often driven by their narrowly conceived economic and political objectives,
hindering their compliance and cooperation to tackle climate change. The study
suggests two points: the US and China will keep relying on fossil fuels for economic
objectives, and climate politics between these two countries and unwillingness on their
part to share the burden have threatened both states’ climate obligations. Hence,
climate change can betackled proficiently if the US and China cooperate by enhancing
trust on each other tofight climate change and shift their industries and manufacturing
sectors to clean energy instead of fossil fuels.