It’s an open secret that China has been playing geopolitical games for decades. The Chinese government has stolen intellectual property, driven global emission increases, and failed to act quickly during the early days of COVID-19.
In April, the Associated Press published a piece stating the Chinese government stayed quiet on COVID-19 for “six key days.” More than 3,000 people had already been infected with the virus by that time, and if the global community had known about the threat sooner, swift action could have been taken. Instead, we were blissfully unaware of the growing problem with worldwide consequences in the Wuhan province.
But COVID-19 is not the only global challenge that China has failed to address. While the rest of the world rushes to reduce carbon emissions and develop new green technologies, China is financing new coal-fire plants all over the world. Because China has shuttered coal plants within its borders and installed solar panels in their place, praise is often given for “steps in the right direction.” Meanwhile, its shady financing jobs are overlooked.
The pandemic may have put China’s shortcomings in the spotlight, but we cannot pretend there were no warning signs. For years, we’ve watched as China disregards environmental protections. This carelessness has gone unaddressed to such a degree that due to smog levels, in some regions of the country, sun rays cannot even reach the solar panels that have been installed. There is no excuse for this to continue, for the sake of Chinese citizens and the global community at large.
Given the political climate, it’s important to clarify that none of this is reflective of Chinese citizens, who oftentimes have their own health jeopardized by the decisions of their government. For too long, serious discussions about China’s leadership have been undermined by claims of discrimination. It is time for us to draw a clear distinction between the Communist Party of China and the millions of citizens who are at risk due to their government’s failure to act on climate change and other crises. A regime that places economic growth and geopolitical power above the health of its citizens and environment must be called out. The very least we can do is stop providing cover for the Chinese government to dodge legitimate criticism.
The United States certainly has work to do in reducing emissions and promoting more sustainable practices. We have an incredible opportunity to do that as we rebuild our economy post-COVID-19 — in a greener way with renewable energy and innovative emission-reducing technologies. Even so, it won’t be enough. We cannot truly address global climate change until China is on board.
At the time of the Kyoto Protocol, China was deemed exempt as a “developing nation.” Years later, the Paris Agreement also gave China a break despite being one of the world’s largest polluters. One of these breaks includes allowing Chinese emissions to peak in 2030. Other nations are aiming to reduce global emissions to net-zero by 2050, but those achievements will be for naught if China is permitted to continue increasing emissions for the next 10 years. While its government says it is committed to its role in the Paris Climate Agreement, it is simultaneously financing more coal plant projects than the rest of the world combined. These concessions and exemptions cannot continue.
As China is still classified as “developing,” it is worth noting that the World Trade Organization has no official credentials and offers no explanation as to when a country is “developing” versus “developed.” Instead, it is up to members to classify themselves in good faith. While China may be classified as “developing,” it also boasts the second-largest economy in the world, only behind our own.
China is a powerful country with a growing economy, and they possess the capability to address climate challenges. Unfortunately, it has become evident that China prefers to ignore environmental concerns for financial and political gain. We can no longer sit idly by while the nation carelessly pollutes our planet and misleads us during times of crisis. The status quo is not working, and if we aren’t writing the rules, China is. It’s time for the U.S. and our allies to stand up and hold the Chinese government accountable for its actions — and lack thereof.
Danielle Butcher is the executive vice president of the American Conservation Coalition.
