As US struggles for China deals, California finds common ground with EV, pollution provincial climate pacts
- China has maintained economic ties with the US west coast states of California, Oregon and Washington despite bilateral tensions at a national level
- California signed its most recent pact with Hainan in August, including academic cooperation on air pollution, carbon neutrality and zero-emission vehicles
A number of climate-related deals signed by the populous US state of California and counterparts in China are helping both sides control air pollution and promote the use of electric vehicles, all while advancing diplomacy between two countries which have struggled at the national level over the past six years.
The western US state, which has a US$3.7 trillion economy, signed its most recent pact with the island province of Hainan in August.
The accord calls for improving academic exchanges and cooperation on air pollution, carbon neutrality and zero-emission vehicles.
This is not just about two regions. This is about China and the US needing to work together
“That’s very encouraging,” said Ma Jun, founding director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a non-governmental advocacy group in Beijing.
“This is not just about two regions. This is about China and the US needing to work together, but [finding it hard] due to the geopolitical challenges.”
To help achieve a stated nationwide goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060, former United Nations economic affairs undersecretary general Sha Zukang – now an honorary dean at Fudan University – advocated at a Beijing trade show in September that China should “accelerate” environmental standards for the “high-energy consumption and high-emission service sectors”.
China and the US have been at odds since 2017 over trade, technology, support for Russia and the fate of Taiwan.