“Climate partner China”

China is ready to fill the void left in international climate diplomacy left by a parting USA, former World Bank vice president and current board member of the European Climate Foundation* (ECF), Caio Koch-Weser writes in a guest commentary for Süddeutsche Zeitung. “China has been systematically pursuing the transition to a climate-friendly society for some years,” Koch-Weser writes. Reasons for China’s commitment include its heavy air pollution, and its determination to access new markets with climate friendly technology, he explains. China could become the first emerging market with an emissions trading system and has made green finance a focus of its G20-presidency – “a German-Chinese tandem could reinvigorate international climate protection”, Koch-Weser writes. 

*The Clean Energy Wire is a joint initiative of the Stiftung Mercator and the European Climate Foundation.