China’s Emissions Targets: a (Non)Reductionist Approach

The past week of events – from a U.S. Senate hearing, to remarks by China’s State Council, to high-level talks in Beijing – have scattered a layer of rich soil from which robust US-China cooperation on climate change might spring forth.

However, that soil is not uniform in content. The issue of quantifiable emissions reductions, central to continued bilateral discussions leading up to Copenhagen, is anything but homogeneously understood, as recent events demonstrate.

China’s Smart Grid Ambitions Could Open Door to US-China Cooperation

China's Power Sector Investment

China’s largest electric transmission company has announced an ambitious plan to develop a national smart grid by 2020 that would help utilities and their customers transport and use energy more efficiently.

Promises and Pitfalls

This article originally featured in China Dialogue.

Forging a new partnership between the United States and China can help address climate change, but only if regulatory and market shortcomings can be overcome.