This paper aims to map China’s evolving interests, institutions and activities related to the governance of climate change. In doing so, it makes a special effort to consider not only China’s position in the UNFCCC but its domestic governance initiatives and the evolving participation of a variety of Chinese firms, NGOs and subnational governmental units in transnational climate governance as well.
Cumulatively, the mapping produces a more nuanced account of China’s role in the governance of climate change than its international reputation as a climate ‘laggard’ suggests. In particular, it reveals a notable disjuncture between China’s considerable ‘voluntary’ efforts to govern its rapidly growing emissions and energy use and its reluctance to commit to legally binding emissions commit