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Source: Getty

In The Media

China's Role at Copenhagen

China has a unique role to play at Copenhagen: it is not a developed country nor is it simply a developing country, but rather somewhere in the middle.

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By Taiya M. Smith
Published on Oct 15, 2009
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Program

Asia

The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Program

Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics

The Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program explores how climate change and the responses to it are changing international politics, global governance, and world security. Our work covers topics from the geopolitical implications of decarbonization and environmental breakdown to the challenge of building out clean energy supply chains, alternative protein options, and other challenges of a warming planet.

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Source: The British Embassy's 100 Voices 100 Days

China has a unique role to play at the Copenhagen negotiations.  The Chinese already have a domestic plan in place, laid out by President Hu. They intend to use this plan to pressure developed nations to recognize China's unique position as a rapidly growing developing nation that has taken on a leadership role, yet still does not fit the profile of an industrialized nation. 

Even if a global deal is not reached at Copenhagen, the negotiations will be a success if the world comes up with a framework that allows all countries, including China, to move forward to the next stage of international action while continuing to deal with climate change on a domestic level.

About the Author

Taiya M. Smith

Former Senior Associate, Energy and Climate Program, Asia Program

Smith has spent the last decade working in international negotiations. Most recently, she served as a member of Secretary Hank Paulson’s senior management team from 2006 to 2009 as the deputy chief of staff and executive secretary for the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

    Recent Work

  • Other
    Why Go Strategic?: The Value of a Truly Strategic Dialogue Between the United States and China

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  • Article
    After Copenhagen

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Taiya M. Smith
Former Senior Associate, Energy and Climate Program, Asia Program
Taiya M. Smith
Political ReformClimate ChangeEast AsiaChinaNorth America

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.

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