CHINA US Focus - Perspectives shaping the world's most important bilateral relationship

Following less than productive discussions at the Doha Climate Change Conference, recent reports have warned the Earth’s temperature continues to rise as climate change worsens. While many developed and developing nations continue to face environmental challenges, China has implemented climate change policies that could serve as a model for other nations.

After a marathon session into early Sunday, the climate talks in Durban concluded this weekend with consensus on extending the only existing legally-binding treaty as well as an agreement to negotiate a new treaty to combat climate change that would include all major emitters.  Persevering thirty-six hours beyond the scheduled closing plenary, almost 200 country [...]

There will be no remedy to climate change, and the melting of the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau, unless the US and China quickly find new ways to work together. This is a challenge of daunting proportions, with a still very uncertain conclusion. But, it is the most important long-range challenge the two countries face.