The Convenient Disappearance of Climate Change Denial in China

China used to have climate denialism too, until it didn't. This piece discusses the arc of the climate denialism movement in China and its sudden disappearance, and how the country was seen as an impediment to climate negotiations to later become a major player in renewable energy on the world stage. 

The author introduces the piece with the spectacular disappointment of Copenhagen's Conference of the Parties, where China was painted as deliberately sabotaging the negotiations. But internally, there was entirely different narrative. The government had seen the situation as their fighting against western powers' attempt at oppressing developed nations. This led to many writers insisting that climate change was a hoax to keep China from becoming a global leader.

But, it seemed that the public did not agree that climate change was not happening. A study found that 93% of Chinese people believe that climate change is happening and many believed it would harm them and their families. Not only this, but internally the Party was solidifying a consensus that climate change indeed was a threat that warranted serious action. These two factors led to the quick and quiet demise of climate denialism in the country. 

Chinese denialists lacked the concerted effort and money that American denialists have, but it is important to see the role that leadership and the public had in sweeping climate denialism aside. "And while China has seized onto climate change as the issue on which it could be both a technological and moral leader, the United States has taken a great leap back."