Article
Deborah Gordon, Smriti Kumble, David Livingston
{
"authors": [
"David Livingston"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "SCP",
"programs": [
"Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics"
],
"projects": [
"Carnegie Oil Initiative"
],
"regions": [
"North America",
"United States",
"East Asia",
"China"
],
"topics": [
"Climate Change"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Climate Change Fight
With U.S. climate leadership lagging, the G-7 is finding ways to move forward in spite of U.S. reluctance while China looms as the new international climate powerhouse.
Published on Jun 12, 2017
Source: CGTN America
Carnegie’s David Livingston joined CGTN’s Rachelle Akuffo to discuss the outcomes of the G-7 environment meeting focusing on the new role being played by the United States under a Trump administration. Livingston noted that the U.S. decision to not engage on climate may have backfired.
“It should be noted that the U.S. probably hoped to really hold things up by refusing to make progress on climate in this round of G-7 environment ministers talks, but it was reduced to simply . . . being a footnote at the bottom of the leaders declaration.”
Livingston pointed out that while the G-7 talks did yield needed progress on “greening of the global financial system,” that the United States and EU lag considerably behind China on these efforts. In fact, with U.S. leadership lagging on climate, Livingston says that China’s role as a leader on climate “is probably the great story of the next few decades.”
Referring to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord as essentially an “own goal,” Livingston points out that “China’s President, Xi Jinping met not with the energy secretary of the United States, but with California Governor Jerry Brown,” as China prepares for new ways to engage the world on climate.
About the Author
David Livingston
Former Associate Fellow, Energy and Climate Program
Livingston was an associate fellow in Carnegie’s Energy and Climate Program, where his research focuses on emerging markets, technologies, and risks.
- Advancing Public Climate Engineering Disclosure
- Working Around Trump on ClimateCommentary
Erik Brattberg, David Livingston
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie China
- When It Comes to Superpower Geopolitics, Malaysia Is Staunchly NonpartisanCommentary
For Malaysia, the conjunction that works is “and” not “or” when it comes to the United States and China.
Elina Noor
- ASEAN-China Digital Cooperation: Deeper but Clear-Eyed EngagementCommentary
ASEAN needs to determine how to balance perpetuating the benefits of technology cooperation with China while mitigating the risks of getting caught in the crosshairs of U.S.-China gamesmanship.
Elina Noor
- Neither Comrade nor Ally: Decoding Vietnam’s First Army Drill with ChinaCommentary
In July 2025, Vietnam and China held their first joint army drill, a modest but symbolic move reflecting Hanoi’s strategic hedging amid U.S.–China rivalry.
Nguyễn Khắc Giang
- Today’s Rare Earths Conflict Echoes the 1973 Oil Crisis — But It’s Not the SameCommentary
Regulation, not embargo, allows Beijing to shape how other countries and firms adapt to its terms.
Alvin Camba
- How China’s Growth Model Determines Its Climate PerformanceCommentary
Rather than climate ambitions, compatibility with investment and exports is why China supports both green and high-emission technologies.
Mathias Larsen
