China has just unveiled a new set of climate targets that will shape the pace of global decarbonization for years to come. As the United States steps back from climate leadership, the world’s attention has turned to China—the largest emitter of greenhouse gases and a growing powerhouse in clean energy technology. To help make sense of what’s at stake, UC San Diego’s Michael Davidson, an associate professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering, explains what these new goals mean for China, the global climate, and the path forward.
