As the world's leading carbon emitters, the United States and China face the dual challenge of navigating their competitive dynamics while collaborating on the urgent issue of climate change. This panel discussion aims to explore the balance between competition and cooperation in their climate ambitions, the impacts of their climate actions, and how they can address domestic concerns about energy security and competitiveness within this context. It seeks to shed light on the complexities of US-China collaboration in advancing global environmental sustainability.

This panel of experts explored the questions:

How can the US balance cooperation and competition with China in response to the shared challenge of climate change?

How are China and the US doing on realizing their climate ambitions? What is the impact of US climate action/inaction on China’s decarbonization efforts? What can we expect from a slower-growing Chinese economy?

How are the US and China engaging with one another on developing solutions to the climate crisis?

How can the US and China manage domestic concerns about national security, competitiveness, intellectual property, and human rights issues?

Speakers:

Meghan O'Sullivan
Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs
Belfer Center of Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Fan Dai
Senior Fellow
Harvard Kennedy School

John Holdren
Research Professor
Harvard Kennedy School

Joanna Lewis
Provost's Distinguished Associate Professor & Director, STIA Program
Georgetown University

Michael McElroy
Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies
Harvard University