A few days ago, China struck a remarkable deal: it agreed with the state of California to work on projects that will help lower US greenhouse gas emissions. In a move that symbolically set aside President’s Trump’s ill-considered decision to reject the global consensus on climate change, it was agreed to establish a joint Chinese-Californian working group. This will explore how low carbon technologies can be applied to urban development and transport, and will create partnerships between Californian companies, universities and their counterparts in China’s provinces.
It was a demonstration of Beijing’s willingness to think differently about all future relationships, build on US states’ ability to act independently, and was supportive of a possible future Democratic contender for the presidency, the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, in his determination to move his green policies forward.
It also signalled China’s flexibility, and willingness to develop
