Matthew Dalton

The agreement was groundbreaking. Nearly 200 countries agreed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius. That meant cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The accords also included financial commitments from wealthy countries like the U.S.,

You were there, right, in 2015. How would you characterize the relationship between China and the U.S. at the time? Like, who was pushing who during these negotiations?

You were there, right, in 2015. How would you characterize the relationship between China and the U.S. at the time? Like, who was pushing who during these negotiations?

You were there, right, in 2015. How would you characterize the relationship between China and the U.S. at the time? Like, who was pushing who during these negotiations?

Obama considered the Paris Agreement a major achievement of his presidency. But less than a year after it was formalized, Trump was elected president for the first time. And within months of taking office, President Trump announced the U.S. was pulling out of the agreement.

Obama considered the Paris Agreement a major achievement of his presidency. But less than a year after it was formalized, Trump was elected president for the first time. And within months of taking office, President Trump announced the U.S. was pulling out of the agreement.

Obama considered the Paris Agreement a major achievement of his presidency. But less than a year after it was formalized, Trump was elected president for the first time. And within months of taking office, President Trump announced the U.S. was pulling out of the agreement.

Then, four years later, Joe Biden became president, and the U.S. was back in.

Then, four years later, Joe Biden became president, and the U.S. was back in.

Then, four years later, Joe Biden became president, and the U.S. was back in.

And that whiplash continues now that Trump is heading back to the White House. He says he wants to pull out of Paris again and ramp up the country's production of fossil fuels.

And that whiplash continues now that Trump is heading back to the White House. He says he wants to pull out of Paris again and ramp up the country's production of fossil fuels.

And that whiplash continues now that Trump is heading back to the White House. He says he wants to pull out of Paris again and ramp up the country's production of fossil fuels.

As the U.S. has gone back and forth on its climate commitment, China has steadily grown its renewable energy and electric vehicle industries. And it's now the world leader in both. Which means at this month's climate conference, countries are turning their attention to Beijing.

As the U.S. has gone back and forth on its climate commitment, China has steadily grown its renewable energy and electric vehicle industries. And it's now the world leader in both. Which means at this month's climate conference, countries are turning their attention to Beijing.

As the U.S. has gone back and forth on its climate commitment, China has steadily grown its renewable energy and electric vehicle industries. And it's now the world leader in both. Which means at this month's climate conference, countries are turning their attention to Beijing.

Will China step up? That's after the break. Around the time the Paris Accords were signed, China had a serious problem with air pollution.

Will China step up? That's after the break. Around the time the Paris Accords were signed, China had a serious problem with air pollution.

Will China step up? That's after the break. Around the time the Paris Accords were signed, China had a serious problem with air pollution.

The accords were an incentive for China to address this issue head on. And there was an economic upside, too.