Abstract

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12, 2021. Biden's focus on climate issues since taking office reflects his intention to return the United States to its position as a global leader in the climate field. The Biden administration's return is not only about its focus on climate change issues, but also about the geopolitical considerations behind it and the competition for global discourse and leadership. The negotiations between China, Europe, and the United States, especially between China and the United States on addressing climate change, have escalated into a game of energy geopolitics, technology and industrial development, global leadership and discourse, and soft power. As the world's second largest economy and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China deserves to play an important role in the global climate governance system, which is also in line with the expectations of the international community. International climate negotiations and the global climate governance process interact with global political, economic, and scientific and technological developments. So what are the risks and challenges China faces in the international climate negotiations? In particular, how should China respond to these issues in the upcoming COP26 negotiations, with a view to enhancing China's scientific discourse and national soft power?