Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins Trump, China, and Climate Change: What Happens Next?
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Nov 13, 2024 Joining the discussion is Jeremy Wallace, A. Doak Barnett Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins University and expert on U.S.-China relations. He dives into how Trump’s policies might pave the way for China to take the lead in clean energy tech. Wallace also analyzes China's economic landscape and energy strategies, contrasting them with U.S. approaches. He highlights the geopolitical intricacies at play, especially the implications of fluctuating U.S. leadership on global climate efforts and emissions.
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Biden's China Decarbonization Playbook
- The Biden administration's China decarbonization playbook mixed climate policy with national security concerns.
- This was partly to secure support for policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Solar Manufacturing: A Tough Business
- The US solar manufacturing industry is not as profitable or strategically important as other sectors like EVs.
- China's solar industry, while dominant, faces challenges due to constant updates and thin profit margins.
Solar's National Security Advantage
- Solar panels offer a national security advantage over fossil fuels due to their distributed nature.
- Disruptions to solar panel imports wouldn't have the same immediate impact as disruptions to oil or gas.