{"id":24988,"date":"2025-07-30T10:02:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=24988"},"modified":"2025-08-08T14:21:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T21:21:14","slug":"us-government-abandoning-climate-fight-but-new-leaders-are-filling-void","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/us-government-abandoning-climate-fight-but-new-leaders-are-filling-void\/","title":{"rendered":"US government may be abandoning the global climate fight, but new leaders are filling the void \u2013 including\u00a0China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                          \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/international-climate-efforts-dornsife-v2-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/international-climate-efforts-dornsife-v2-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/international-climate-efforts-dornsife-v2-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/international-climate-efforts-dornsife-v2-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Two world leaders, in front of Chinese and Brazilian flags, reach out for a handshake and smile.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva meet in Beijing in May 2025. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=sustainability\">Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>US government may be abandoning the global climate fight, but new leaders are filling the void \u2013 including\u00a0China<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Trump\u2019s efforts haven\u2019t sunk global efforts to fight climate change \u2014 instead, new leaders are stepping up and working together, even within the US.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Shannon Gibson<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">July 30, 2025<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>When President Donald Trump announced in early 2025 that he was withdrawing the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/putting-america-first-in-international-environmental-agreements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">from the Paris climate agreement<\/a> for the second time, it triggered fears that the move would undermine global efforts to slow climate change and diminish America\u2019s global influence.<\/p>\n<p>A big question hung in the air: Who would step into the leadership vacuum?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.online.usc.edu\/sm\/faculty\/shannon-gibson\/\">I study<\/a> the dynamics of global environmental politics, including through the United Nations climate negotiations. While it\u2019s still too early to fully assess the long-term impact of the United States\u2019 political shift when it comes to global cooperation on climate change, there are signs that a new set of leaders is rising to the occasion.<\/p>\n<h2>World responds to another US withdrawal<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2016\/sep\/03\/breakthrough-us-china-agree-ratify-paris-climate-change-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. first committed to the Paris Agreement<\/a> in a joint announcement by President Barack Obama and China\u2019s Xi Jinping in 2015. At the time, the U.S. agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025 and pledged financial support to help developing countries adapt to climate risks and embrace renewable energy.<\/p>\n<p>Some people praised the U.S. engagement, while others criticized the original commitment as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2015\/dec\/14\/paris-climate-change-deal-cop21-oxfam-actionaid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">too weak<\/a>. Since then, the U.S. has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/01\/10\/1223747804\/u-s-cut-climate-pollution-in-2023-but-not-fast-enough-to-limit-global-warming#:%7E:text=Under%20the%202015%20international%20Paris,domestic%20oil%20and%20gas%20production\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cut emissions by 17.2% below 2005 levels<\/a> \u2014 missing the goal, in part because its efforts have been stymied along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Just two years after the landmark Paris Agreement, Trump stood in the Rose Garden in 2017 <a href=\"https:\/\/trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov\/briefings-statements\/statement-president-trump-paris-climate-accord\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">and announced he was withdrawing the U.S.<\/a> from the treaty, citing concerns that jobs would be lost, that meeting the goals would be an economic burden, and that it wouldn\u2019t be fair because China, the world\u2019s largest emitter today, <a href=\"https:\/\/unfccc.int\/sites\/default\/files\/NDC\/2022-06\/China%E2%80%99s%20Achievements%2C%20New%20Goals%20and%20New%20Measures%20for%20Nationally%20Determined%20Contributions.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wasn\u2019t projected to start reducing<\/a> its emissions for several years.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"mupwu\" class=\"tc-infographic-datawrapper\" style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 600px;\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/mupwu\/1\/\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Tracking annual carbon emissions over time\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Scientists and some politicians and business leaders <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/how-scientists-reacted-to-the-u-s-leaving-the-paris-climate-agreement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">were quick to criticize the decision<\/a>, calling it \u201cshortsighted\u201d and \u201creckless.\u201d Some feared that the Paris Agreement, signed by <a href=\"https:\/\/unfccc.int\/process-and-meetings\/the-paris-agreement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">almost every country<\/a>, would fall apart.<\/p>\n<p>But it did not.<\/p>\n<p>In the United States, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/paris-climate-agreement-tech-giants-apple-amazon-google-cities-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">businesses such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Tesla<\/a> made their own pledges to meet the Paris Agreement goals.<\/p>\n<p>Hawaii passed legislation to become <a href=\"https:\/\/unfccc.int\/news\/hawaii-becomes-first-state-to-enact-law-that-aligns-with-paris-agreement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the first state to align with the agreement<\/a>. A coalition of U.S. cities and states <a href=\"https:\/\/usclimatealliance.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">banded together to form the United States Climate Alliance<\/a> to keep working to slow climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Globally, leaders from Italy, Germany and France rebutted Trump\u2019s assertion that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2017\/jun\/01\/trump-withdraw-paris-climate-deal-world-leaders-react\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paris Agreement could be renegotiated<\/a>. Others from <a href=\"https:\/\/mainichi.jp\/english\/articles\/20170602\/p2a\/00m\/0na\/021000c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Japan<\/a>, Canada, Australia and New Zealand doubled down on their own support of the global climate accord. In 2020, President Joe Biden brought the U.S. back into the agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Now, with Trump pulling the U.S. out again \u2014 and taking steps to <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/revoking-epas-endangerment-finding-the-keystone-of-us-climate-policies-wont-be-simple-and-could-have-unintended-consequences-252271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eliminate U.S. climate policies<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/unleashing-american-energy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">boost fossil fuels<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opb.org\/article\/2025\/07\/17\/trump-administration-order-requires-interior-secretary-sign-off-wind-solar-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slow the growth of clean energy<\/a> at home \u2014 other countries are stepping up.<\/p>\n<p>On July 24, 2025, China and the European Union issued a joint statement <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/api\/files\/document\/print\/de\/statement_25_1902\/STATEMENT_25_1902_EN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vowing to strengthen their climate targets<\/a> and meet them. They alluded to the U.S., referring to \u201cthe fluid and turbulent international situation today\u201d in saying that \u201cthe major economies \u2026 must step up efforts to address climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In some respects, this is a strength of the Paris Agreement \u2014 it is a legally nonbinding agreement based on what each country decides to commit to. Its flexibility keeps it alive, as the withdrawal of a single member does not trigger immediate sanctions, nor does it render the actions of others obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement survived the first U.S. withdrawal, and so far, all signs point to it surviving the second one.<\/p>\n<h2>Who\u2019s filling the leadership vacuum<\/h2>\n<p>From what I\u2019ve seen in international climate meetings and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gcjlab.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">my team\u2019s research<\/a>, it appears that most countries are moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>One bloc emerging as a powerful voice in negotiations is the <a href=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/explained-the-negotiating-blocs-that-will-steer-cop26\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Like-Minded Group of Developing Countries<\/a> \u2013 a group of low- and middle-income countries that includes China, India, Bolivia and Venezuela. Driven by economic development concerns, these countries are pressuring the developed world to meet its commitments to both cut emissions and provide financial aid to poorer countries.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682342\/original\/file-20250727-56-l27ct4.jpg\" alt=\"A man with his arms crossed leans on a desk with a 'Bolivia' label in front of it.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diego Pacheco, a negotiator from Bolivia, spoke on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries group during a climate meeting in Bonn, Germany, in June 2025. (photo: IISD\/ENB | Kiara Worth.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>China, motivated by economic and political factors, seems to be happily filling the climate power vacuum created by the U.S. exit.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, China voiced disappointment over the first U.S. withdrawal. It maintained its climate commitments and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/chinas-perspective-on-the-us-withdrawal-from-the-paris-agreement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pledged to contribute more<\/a> in climate finance to other developing countries than the U.S. had committed to \u2014 US$3.1 billion compared with $3 billion.<\/p>\n<p>This time around, China is using leadership on climate change in ways that fit its broader strategy of gaining influence and economic power by supporting economic growth and cooperation in developing countries. Through its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/backgrounder\/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Belt and Road Initiative<\/a>, China has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/analysis-chinas-clean-energy-exports-in-2024-alone-will-cut-overseas-co2-by-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scaled up renewable energy exports and development<\/a> in other countries, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/english.news.cn\/20240620\/4fca2a0294494588ac4a707bfa17b311\/c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">investing in solar power in Egypt<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/english.news.cn\/africa\/20230218\/16462cb0d83743308ee10cf45b93dbcc\/c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wind energy development in Ethiopia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While China is still the <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/2025\/04\/20\/chinas-coal-generation-dropped-5-yoy-in-q1-as-electricity-demand-increased\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">world\u2019s largest coal consumer<\/a>, it has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-07-27\/chinas-co2-emissions-may-have-peaked-thanks-to-renewable-energy\/105549598\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aggressively pursued investments in renewable energy<\/a> at home, including solar, wind and electrification. In 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/ember-energy.org\/latest-insights\/global-electricity-review-2025\/major-countries-and-regions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about half the renewable energy capacity<\/a> built worldwide was in China.<\/p>\n<p>While it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/analysis-95-of-countries-miss-un-deadline-to-submit-2035-climate-pledges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">missed the deadline to submit its climate pledge<\/a> due this year, China has a goal of peaking its emissions before 2030 and then dropping to net-zero emissions by 2060. It is continuing major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jun\/26\/china-breaks-more-records-with-massive-build-up-of-wind-and-solar-power\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">investments in renewable energy<\/a>, both for its own use and for export. The U.S. government, in contrast, is <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-wind-and-solar-power-helps-keep-americas-farms-alive-260657\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cutting its support<\/a> for wind and solar power. China also <a href=\"https:\/\/icapcarbonaction.com\/en\/news\/china-officially-expands-national-ets-cement-steel-and-aluminum-sectors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">just expanded its carbon market<\/a> to encourage emissions cuts in the cement, steel and aluminum sectors.<\/p>\n<p>The British government has also ratcheted up its climate commitments as it seeks to become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/cop\/uks-miliband-vows-lead-clean-energy-demand-corporate-net-zero-strategies-2025-06-25\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clean energy superpower<\/a>. In 2025, it pledged to cut emissions 77% by 2035 compared with 1990 levels. Its new pledge is also more transparent and specific than in the past, with details on how specific sectors, such as power, transportation, construction and agriculture, will cut emissions. And it contains stronger commitments to provide funding to help developing countries grow more sustainably.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of corporate leadership, while <a href=\"https:\/\/instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com\/insights\/guides\/greenwashing-vs-green-hushing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">many American businesses<\/a> are being quieter about their efforts, in order to avoid sparking the ire of the Trump administration, most appear to be continuing on a green path \u2014 despite the lack of federal support and diminished rules.<\/p>\n<p>USA Today and Statista\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2025\/04\/21\/earth-day-2025-americas-climate-leaders\/83033618007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">America\u2019s Climate Leader List<\/a>\u201d includes about 500 large companies that have reduced their carbon intensity \u2014 carbon emissions divided by revenue \u2014 by 3% from the previous year. The data shows that the list is growing, up from about 400 in 2023.<\/p>\n<h2>What to watch at the 2025 climate talks<\/h2>\n<p>The Paris Agreement isn\u2019t going anywhere. Given the agreement\u2019s design, with each country voluntarily setting its own goals, the U.S. never had the power to drive it into obsolescence.<\/p>\n<p>The question is if developed and developing country leaders alike can navigate two pressing needs \u2014 economic growth and ecological sustainability \u2014 without compromising their leadership on climate change.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s U.N. climate conference in Brazil, <a href=\"https:\/\/cop30.br\/en\/about-cop30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">COP30<\/a>, will show how countries intend to move forward and, importantly, who will lead the way.<\/p>\n<p><em>Research assistant Emerson Damiano, a recent graduate in <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/environmental-studies\/\">environmental studies<\/a> at USC, contributed to this article.<\/em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/251786\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/shannon-gibson-1388776\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shannon Gibson<\/a>, Professor (Teaching) of Environmental Studies, <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/poir\/\">Political Science and International Relations<\/a>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-government-may-be-abandoning-the-global-climate-fight-but-new-leaders-are-filling-the-void-including-china-251786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/how-climate-finance-to-help-poor-countries-became-a-global-shell-game-donors-have-counted-fossil-fuel-projects-airports-and-even-ice-cream-shops\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How climate finance to help poor countries became a global shell game<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/two-iconic-coral-species-are-now-functionally-extinct-off-florida-study-finds\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >2 iconic coral species are now functionally extinct off Florida, study finds \u2013 we witnessed the reef\u2019s bleaching and\u00a0devastation<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/trumps-words-arent-stopping-many-countries-from-setting-higher-climate-goals\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Trump\u2019s words aren\u2019t stopping China, Brazil and many other countries from setting higher climate goals, but progress is\u00a0slow<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump\u2019s efforts haven\u2019t sunk global efforts to fight climate change \u2014 instead, new leaders are stepping up and working together, even within the US.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":24990,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,15],"tags":[66,87,83],"class_list":["post-24988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-sustainability","tag-climate-change","tag-expert-viewpoint","tag-the-conversation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US government 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