Curbing China’s coal consumption is in many ways the main challenge when it comes to slowing global climate change, but accomplishing that goal has as much to do with the United States as it does with China.

That’s because the U.S., more so than other nations, can put a particular pressure on China to invest more in low-carbon technology and bankroll less coal power in developing countries. The U.S. can also get China to commit to consuming less coal and emitting fewer greenhouse gases, according to global energy analysts, climate researchers, and environmentalists.