When the "China Card" is Good for the Climate

When looking for excuses for its failure to lead on climate change, the United States has often pulled the China Card. You know, the one that says "you can’t expect us to do much considering all the carbon the Chinese are pumping into the atmosphere?"

It’s been played by Republicans and Democrats alike, as the Obama Administration’s top climate negotiator Todd Stern reminded us before last year’s pivotal Copenhagen conference when he said “no deal will be possible if we don't find a way forward with China.”

So, given this apparent eagerness to see China getting to work on climate solutions, why is the Obama Administration now flirting with the possibility of starting a squabble with China over its subsidies for clean energy industries?

Well, the short answer is because it’s election season and because President Obama is naturally trying to do everything he can to maintain the support of key allies like the United Steelworkers. Last week, the powerful union filed a complaint with the administration asking it to investigate whether those Chinese clean energy subsidies violate World Trade Organization trade rules. Acting on the complaint allows the administration yet another opportunity to look tough on China, and to defend American jobs just before an election that’s all about jobs.

But viewed without the lens of political cynicism, it’s hard to see the logic in this way of thinking. After all, there are some very legitimate concerns behind the China Card. As this weekend’s deadly mine explosion in Hunan province made painfully clear, China has got a big big problem with its reliance on coal – a problem which in the words of Climate Progress’s Joe Romm could “singlehandedly finish off the climate” unless it takes drastic measures to meet its growing energy demand with clean fuels. Considering the urgency of the situation, it would be insane to do anything but encourage the Chinese to use every single means at its disposal (including a bending of WTO rules) to kick its clean energy industry into overdrive. The idea that we would try to discourage that in any way is absolutely outrageous.

But even more outrageous is the idea that doing such a foolish thing is necessary to promote American clean energy jobs. Don’t get me wrong; I would love nothing more than to see American workers at the helm of the global clean energy revolution. But if the steelworkers and the Obama Administration are really so determined to make sure the U.S. doesn't fall behind China, then they should be pouring every last ounce of energy and political capital that they have into passing a strong comprehensive climate and clean energy bill instead of slowing up the Chinese with a WTO roadblock. If we’re so worried about how much China is spending on its solar and wind industries, then we should get busy outspending them here at home. That way we could actually collaborate with the Chinese on two very good causes: saving the planet and subverting the WTO.

So if I were to give any advice to Mr. Obama on how to address the Steelworker complaint it would be this: Just play the China Card. Just say, “Sorry guys, but you really can’t expect us to do this, considering how much carbon the Chinese are pumping into the atmosphere.” For once it wouldn’t sound so lame.

Photo credit: Avinash Kaushik via Flickr

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