A century ago, an influenza pandemic killed more people than died in World War I. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more Americans than died in all US wars since 1945. A big difference, however, is that science did not have a vaccine for the influenza virus back then, but now several companies and countries have created vaccines for COVID-19.

India’s COVID crisis is a perfect case study in unlearned lessons, poor preparedness, and the continuing threat of the virus even as richer countries climb their way back to full function.

China and the United States should proceed from easier topics to more difficult ones, seeking new paradigms of interaction under new circumstances. Success in climate cooperation, if achieved, may serve as a demonstration of feasibility for other areas.

Areas with a high concentration of energy-intensive industry — in particular those that are fast-growing and emission heavy — will be hardest hit. In response, the central government should step up its efforts to help these areas embrace carbon neutrality through such means as carbon quota trading.

Last week, the world marked the 51st Earth Day. This year’s theme – “Restore Our Earth” – was apt. As the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us, the effects of human activity on the planet do not respect borders. The Earth is a single living, self-regulating system, and it demands a single, shared system of accounting that balances at the global level. We need a one-Earth balance sheet.

A Cornell University program centered on community-building and education is a case-study in U.S.-China cooperation.

The U.S. and China, the two largest carbon emitters in the world, have both pledged to cut their greenhouse gasses with ambitious near-future targets, but neither side is ready to work together on the details.

Xi was the first national leader to speak after Biden, emphasizing the need to advance global environmental governance.

U.S. President Joe Biden is making a run at renewing America’s global leadership on climate governance. The World Earth Day summit provided an inflection point that attracted attention from around the world.

Biden has invited dozens of world leaders to join the two-day virtual summit starting on Thursday.