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All eyes are on US-China climate engagement, recently on the point of "compartmentalizing" made by @ClimateEnvoy. Here is a thread on this and how the current debate needs to move beyond a conceptual trap.
While I understand the political and policy relevance of discussing compartmentalizing, the debate around it follows a flawed logic and distracts the US from a more meaningful discussion on China and climate. There are at least two problems in the current debate.
First, it assumes climate change as just one of the many issues on the geopolitical table, one that a zero sum mentality should apply. The truth is our planet does not negotiate. And if we do not act fast enough, we will lose that table soon.
Second, it follows a narrowminded transactional approach in assuming US has to give sth up for China to cut carbon. Truth is neither side can strongarm the other. This doesn't mean smart diplomacy can't catalyze conditions for action on the other side. Engagement is still crucial
Even if this highly transactional view has to be followed, it misses the fact that transactions are simply hard given the limited space on each side to compromise to the other. Check out the 3rd point made by @ryanl_hass https://twitter.com/BrookingsInst/status/1350428086999855104?s=20
Finally, this transactional approach also misses the narrowing of the gap between rhetoric & practice in China on the point that climate action is in Beijing's self interest, and is in a way exposing the widening of that gap in the US.
A decade ago, the Republican argument against action is China is not doing it. While China clearly needs to do more, that argument will lose traction in light of the US political seesaw. New strategy is to keep pivoting to the compartmentalizing question: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-wont-let-america-compartmentalize-climate-change-11612392531
Let's face it, at the moment, China is winning the clean energy race & leading manufacturing & increasingly in more areas of R&D and biz models. It is not like the US needs to soften its stance on trade for Beijing to understand low carbon=prosperity & PM2.5 is dangerous.
So let's put the compartmentalizing question to rest, and focus on how engagement can generate better conditions for both the US and China to enhance their ambition. After all, this will benefit both as well as the rest of the world.
