A man cleans a canal in Shanghai on September 24. China’s carbon pledge is part of its goal to achieve an “ecological civilisation”. Photo: EPA-EFE A man cleans a canal in Shanghai on September 24. China’s carbon pledge is part of its goal to achieve an “ecological civilisation”. Photo: EPA-EFE
A man cleans a canal in Shanghai on September 24. China’s carbon pledge is part of its goal to achieve an “ecological civilisation”. Photo: EPA-EFE
Yifei Li
Opinion

Opinion

Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro

The high stakes and pitfalls of China’s drive for carbon leadership

  • China’s ambitious carbon pledge may be the world’s last best hope and has great potential for renewed US cooperation
  • But it also risks justifying greater authoritarianism at home, more controversial dams and exports of carbon liabilities to belt and road countries

Yifei LiJudith Shapiro
Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro

Updated: 6:40am, 31 Oct, 2020

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A man cleans a canal in Shanghai on September 24. China’s carbon pledge is part of its goal to achieve an “ecological civilisation”. Photo: EPA-EFE A man cleans a canal in Shanghai on September 24. China’s carbon pledge is part of its goal to achieve an “ecological civilisation”. Photo: EPA-EFE
A man cleans a canal in Shanghai on September 24. China’s carbon pledge is part of its goal to achieve an “ecological civilisation”. Photo: EPA-EFE
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Yifei Li

Yifei Li

Yifei Li is assistant professor of environmental studies at NYU Shanghai and global network assistant professor at NYU. He is currently also a residential fellow at the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society in Munich. He is coauthor (with Judith Shapiro) of China Goes Green: Coercive Environmentalism for a Troubled Planet. He received his PhD in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Judith Shapiro

Judith Shapiro

Judith Shapiro is director of the masters in natural resources and sustainable development for the School of International Service at American University and chair of the global environmental politics programme. She is the author, co-author, or editor of nine books, including (with Yifei Li) China Goes Green: Coercive Environmentalism for a Troubled Planet. Her PhD is from American University’s School of International Service.