To Create a Greener Future, the West Can't Ignore China

Fighting climate change is a promising area for engagement between Western companies and China. However, geopolitical strains, the disruption of business relationships by the Covid pandemic, and domestic Chinese policies all make engagement complex. In this article the authors examine the complexities of the current climate-change opportunities in China and present practical strategies for businesses ready to enter the market. There is a twofold opportunity, they explain. First, China offers a vast market for Western- developed solutions. The Chinese government has set ambitious targets, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. That goal creates significant opportunities for firms with cutting-edge technologies. Second, businesses have an opportunity to integrate China’s own advances in climate-related technology. The authors go on to outline four strategies, all of which involve partnering in some way. They ad- vise companies to make sustain- ability a global theme, to join or form coalitions to find safe spaces for technological development, to forge partnerships with local companies for market access, and to insource technology