China, the United States and the European Union: Multiple Bilateralism and Prospects for a New Climate Change Diplomacy

This article argues that one of the most significant evolutions in global climate politics in recent years is the redefinition of power relations that has emerged since the 2009 Copenhagen summit. In the run-up to a potential new climate deal at the 2015 Paris summit, a new climate change diplomacy may be emerging among three actors that are in many respects the most powerful and influential: China, the United States and the European Union. The rise of China is affecting many areas of global governance, but nowhere is it more evident than in the case of climate change, where a very specific mix of power politics, economic interests and normative environments defines the direction of the debate. This article explores how the latter three elements are shaping and re-shaping “multiple bilateralisms”1 between the US, China and the EU and identifies tentative steps toward stronger collective action. The article concludes that a new, perhaps more decentralized but potentially more inclusive approach on climate change is being established.status: publishe