“HOW can we achieve our global climate goals without having Beijing working with us? We can’t it’s that simple! There’s no way any one country can solve this crisis and particularly if we’re large emitting nations.”

This was the answer of US climate envoy John Kerry being interviewed on MSNBC.

He went on to say that China and the US had agreed to separate climate, which affects us all, from the many other bilateral Sino-US issues. 

This sensible recognition that there is a wider commonality binding humanity together is a welcome change from the hegemonic “America first” and faux human rights rhetoric too often coming from US circles.

When it comes to climate and co-operation with China, Kerry went on to say that “it’s not a question of the US giving away something. By co-operating we all gain something.” 

This pragmatic win-win attitude will serve the diplomatic and well-mannered Kerry well on his trip to Beijing from July 16 to 19, where he will discuss the climate crisis and promote a successful Cop28.

Coming on top of Janet Yellen’s visit, it will also serve to thaw Sino-US tensions. 

However, for real climate co-operation, which seeks the salvation of our planet and humanity, the many Sino-US tensions Kerry alludes to cannot be bracketed off forever.

These tensions include the trade war, sanctions, internal interference in China’s domestic affairs, and the US’s military containment of China. 

To highlight this problem, climate talks have been suspended in the past, due to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.

The weather balloon debacle led to Antony Blinken cancelling his Beijing visit.

The pushing of China’s red lines, the threatening of China’s integrity, and the China threat hysteria all push the world closer to the possibility of environmental annihilation as the US plays a fool’s game of chicken, risking nuclear catastrophe.  

Even without this dire outcome, according to Brown University, the US military is responsible for twice the amount of greenhouse emissions as all the cars in the US.

War causes incalculable damage to the environment due to causes such as fuel infrastructure destruction and depleted uranium. 

In Ukraine, we have seen how the breaking of energy infrastructure has led to the reintroduction of coal and the purchasing of US fracked gas in Europe.  

Kerry believes Ukraine is merely a temporary setback to solving the climate crisis. If Ukraine was a singular exception of US-led or sponsored conflicts he may have a point but there have been many wars and the US aggressive posture and indoctrination of its citizens, which constantly advertises new “bogeymen” to be defeated and “victims” to be saved points to additional conflict in the future. 

As such, global security cannot be bracketed off from environmental catastrophe and climate change.

The same goes for even global development, which stands in direct opposition to hegemonism that has proven, through the use of war and other coercive means, to seek win-lose outcomes where the global South loses out as it is dedeveloped. 

Take China’s example of bargaining with hegemonism, to engage in trade relations with global capital, for a time, it sacrificed its environment to provide higher returns.

During this period Sino-US relations were on a high as China was expected to remain technologically subservient.

However, as China developed its technological base, becoming a leader in clean energy, electric vehicles, and public transport the US has become increasingly belligerent, fearing that China threatens its dominance. 

However, it’s not a question of the US giving away something — by continued Sino-US co-operation in all fields it gains the world. 

China’s system, which has the ability to lead capital for the good of all, has fostered the much-needed green technology.

As such, it is madness that the US opposes China’s system, which provides proven technological solutions. Through sanctions, chip wars and decoupling the best Chinese minds from the best US universities we all lose something — ultimately our planet. 

Consequently, we need whole-process multilateral solutions to solve the climate crisis, which factor in development and poverty alleviation.

China, aided by its own developmental experiences, which are inseparable from its environmental degradation and then enrichment, has created an eco-developmental multilateral platform, which the US must seize on and take a central role along with China. 

The Global Development Initiative (GDI) was proposed, by Xi Jinping, at the 76th Session of the United Nations general assembly in 2021.

It is a platform that follows people-centred development and seeks to inject impetus into the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which include poverty alleviation and environmental protection. 

The GDI is not just a talking shop and while the initiative was proposed by China it is supported by the majority of countries. As of May 2023, China has signed 46 South-South co-operation documents on climate change with 39 developing countries. 

There have been 52 South-South co-operation training sessions on climate change. 

In November 2022, China and Mongolia issued a joint statement to strengthen co-operation on desertification prevention and support for Mongolia’s plan to plant one billion trees.

In the same month, China and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (Inbar) launched the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative, which is essential for cleaning up the scourge of plastic pollution. 

When it comes to funding, China has added an additional US$1 billion on top of the existing US$3bn for South-South co-operation assistance.

This is just a start — there is much to be done. Two initiatives in progress that are especially pertinent when it comes to Kerry’s visit is the GDI’s current quest for the establishment of an international coalition for energy and the establishment of a global network for sustainable forest management. 

While Kerry says the US cannot do without China, likewise, China cannot do without the US — the same can be said for the rest of the world which needs them to co-operate.

The GDI is open to all and China needs the US to join this initiative, which puts climate change into its rightful context of development, which in turn cannot be achieved without lasting multilateral peace.