Matthew Dalton

And into that void, a new leader is seen as stepping up.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Thursday, November 14th. Coming up on the show, how China overtook the U.S. as the world's climate leader.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Thursday, November 14th. Coming up on the show, how China overtook the U.S. as the world's climate leader.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Thursday, November 14th. Coming up on the show, how China overtook the U.S. as the world's climate leader.

China and the US are the world's two largest economies and the world's two largest carbon emitters. So for the past few decades, any successful global climate deal has needed to get both superpowers on board. And the US and China each bring very different perspectives to the table.

China and the US are the world's two largest economies and the world's two largest carbon emitters. So for the past few decades, any successful global climate deal has needed to get both superpowers on board. And the US and China each bring very different perspectives to the table.

China and the US are the world's two largest economies and the world's two largest carbon emitters. So for the past few decades, any successful global climate deal has needed to get both superpowers on board. And the US and China each bring very different perspectives to the table.

After years of negotiation, both the US and China finally got on board with a major climate agreement in 2015, the Paris Climate Accords. Here's former President Barack Obama in Paris.

After years of negotiation, both the US and China finally got on board with a major climate agreement in 2015, the Paris Climate Accords. Here's former President Barack Obama in Paris.

After years of negotiation, both the US and China finally got on board with a major climate agreement in 2015, the Paris Climate Accords. Here's former President Barack Obama in Paris.

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.,

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.,

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.