How does the fight against climate change intersect with the domestic and foreign policies of states? The Case of China

Abstract

This research aims to know the intersection between the domestic and foreign policies of China in tackling Climate change. Climate change issues that appeared in the 1980s were not considered by China as important issues both in the domestic and foreign policies. Indeed, at that time China was focused on the development of its economy. But in recent years, the position of China drastically changed. Not only active in the various international engagements on tackling climate change but China also vowed to be responsible for a major power in the global response to climate change. The reasons behind China's increased engagement in climate action, suggest a combination of domestic pressures and foreign policy objectives.  If in the domestic pressures, the apocalypse became the main reason for the active engagement of China, in the aspect of foreign policy, China aimed to enhance its global image and influence by positioning itself as a responsible actor in climate change, especially in the perceived leadership vacuum left by the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. By taking a leading role in climate action, China seeks to gain soft power, influencing other nations through attraction and cooperation rather than coercion.