For the first time in 30 years, the annual U.N. conference on climate change is taking place without top government representation from the United States. China has emerged as the top dog at the summit and is poised to become the world’s supplier of green energy technology.

David Gelles and Brad Plumer explain the growing showdown between global superpowers over the future of energy.

Guest:

David Gelles, a reporter on the New York Times climate team who leads The Times’s Climate Forward newsletter.
Brad Plumer, a New York Times reporter based in Washington, covering technology and policy efforts to address global warming.

Background reading:

There’s a race to power the future. China is pulling away.
At a climate summit without the U.S., allies and rivals call for action.

Photo: Gilles Sabrie for The New York Times

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