All Eyes on Top Polluter China as Global Climate Talks Begin
- UN-organized climate talks scheduled to start Dec. 2 in Madrid
- China in focus as world’s biggest polluter, green investor
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All eyes are on China as negotiators from nearly 200 nations head to Madrid for the next round of United Nations climate talks. Like most efforts to reach an international consensus, what Beijing wants matters because of its rising geopolitical clout and economic might.
But when it comes to one of the core causes of climate change -- carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels -- there’s no bigger player than China. Though it’s the biggest investor in renewable power, it’s the world’s top carbon polluter and energy consumer. Balancing how it powers its massive economy against what’s asked of it by the rest of the planet is far from settled.