The Guardian view on Donald Trump and the climate crisis: the US is in reverse while China ploughs ahead | Editorial
The Trump administration has eliminated the Obama‑era endangerment finding that underpinned federal climate regulations, a move coinciding with a surge in costly extreme weather events in the United States. At the same time, China reports its 21st month of flat or falling carbon emissions and conti…
In a week that underscored the widening gap between the United States and China on climate action, the Trump administration announced the repeal of the Obama‑era endangerment finding that formed the legal basis for a suite of federal climate regulations. The decision, announced by President Donald Trump and EPA head Lee Zeldin, comes as the United States grapples with a record‑breaking series of extreme weather events that cost more than $115 billion in 2023 alone.
US climate setbacks amid mounting disaster costs
Last year, the United States experienced 23 climate‑related disasters—wildfires, floods, winter storms and heatwaves—each exceeding $1 billion in damages. The cumulative toll of $115 billion eclipses the combined losses of the previous three years, highlighting a trend that scientists warn is accelerating toward an irreversible warming threshold.
Just a day after a leading scientific panel warned that the planet is edging closer to a point of no return, the White House moved to dismantle the endangerment finding. That finding had allowed the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse‑gas emissions from power plants, vehicles and a host of industrial sources. By removing it, the administration effectively neutered the primary federal tool for curbing emissions.
Trump framed the rollback as a deregulation effort, insisting that eliminating the rule would save Americans $1.3 trillion. The claim lacks independent verification, and critics note that it ignores rising insurance premiums, health costs and the broader economic damage linked to climate‑related disasters. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse condemned the move as “plain‑and‑simple corruption,” arguing that it prioritizes fossil‑fuel profits over public safety.
China’s parallel climate narrative
While Washington is pulling back, Beijing reported its 21st consecutive month of flat or slightly declining carbon emissions, according to data compiled by the analysis site Carbon Brief. China remains the world’s largest emitter in absolute terms, but its emissions intensity—carbon output per unit of GDP—has been falling, albeit slower than the target set in its current five‑year plan.
China’s green transition is powered by unprecedented investment in renewable energy. More than 90 % of the country’s clean‑energy investment growth in 2023 came from solar, wind and battery projects, making China a global leader in low‑cost electricity generation. Yet the nation faces challenges: subsidies for renewables are being trimmed, and a wave of new coal‑fired power plants has been approved as backup capacity.
Human‑rights concerns also shadow China’s green push. Reports of forced labour in Xinjiang’s solar‑panel factories have drawn international criticism, and Beijing’s dominance over critical minerals—lithium, cobalt and rare earths—continues to limit other countries’ ability to develop independent clean‑tech supply chains.
Implications for global climate diplomacy
The divergent paths of the United States and China create a vacuum in climate leadership. The United States, once the primary driver of the Paris Agreement, now appears to be retreating from its commitments, while China, despite its own emissions challenges, is still positioning itself as a supplier of affordable renewable technology.
Analysts warn that the upcoming Chinese five‑year plan, due in March, will be a litmus test for the durability of its emissions‑intensity reductions. If Beijing scales back renewable subsidies or accelerates coal construction, the modest gains reported this year could evaporate, undermining its credibility on the global stage.
For the United States, the repeal of the endangerment finding may embolden fossil‑fuel interests. Reports suggest Trump has solicited $1 billion from industry magnates for his 2024 campaign, promising to roll back further environmental safeguards. Such moves could lock in higher emissions domestically and erode the market for clean‑energy innovation.
What lies ahead?
In the short term, the United States faces a surge in climate‑related insurance claims, health impacts from heatwaves, and infrastructure strain from floods and storms. Without federal regulation, states may struggle to implement consistent emissions standards, leading to a patchwork of policies that could hinder nationwide mitigation efforts.
China’s next policy cycle will determine whether its flat‑emissions trend becomes a genuine decline or a temporary plateau. International observers will be watching for signs of renewed commitment to the Paris targets, especially as the global community seeks to close the emissions gap before 2030.
Both superpowers wield outsized influence over global supply chains, finance and technology. Their policy choices will shape the availability of clean‑energy equipment, the price of carbon‑intensive commodities, and the geopolitical balance of climate diplomacy for years to come.
Why it matters
The US rollback of climate rules and China's contrasting emissions trajectory highlight a pivotal shift in global climate leadership that will affect disaster costs, clean‑energy markets, and international diplomacy.
Key points
- The Trump administration repealed the Obama‑era endangerment finding, weakening federal climate regulation.
- 2023 saw 23 US climate disasters costing over $115 billion, a record level of damage.
- China reported its 21st month of flat or slightly falling carbon emissions while expanding renewable investment.
- Human‑rights concerns and mineral dominance complicate China's green transition.
- The policy divergence creates a leadership vacuum in global climate negotiations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the endangerment finding that the Trump administration removed?
The endangerment finding is a scientific determination by the EPA that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, forming the legal basis for federal emissions regulations.
How many climate‑related disasters did the US experience in 2023?
The United States recorded 23 separate extreme weather and climate events that each caused at least $1 billion in damage.
Is China’s carbon‑intensity decline meeting its targets?
China’s emissions intensity fell, but the rate was slower than the goal set in its current five‑year plan, raising doubts about meeting Paris commitments.
What are the concerns about forced labour in China’s renewable sector?
Investigations have linked Uyghur forced labour to solar‑panel production in Xinjiang, prompting calls for supply‑chain scrutiny and ethical sourcing.
