Former US climate envoy John Kerry has emphasized the critical need for direct dialogue between the United States and China to address global climate change. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event in New York City, Kerry highlighted the indispensable role China plays in achieving global climate goals. ‘You can’t really make anything happen if China isn’t on board,’ he stated. The discussion took place during the United Nations climate change conference in Belem, Brazil, where nearly 200 countries are working to enhance multilateral climate action, despite the US’s absence. Kerry pointed to past successes, such as the US-China joint announcement that led to the Paris Agreement in 2015, as evidence of the power of bilateral cooperation. He also noted that China’s emissions could decline sooner than expected, despite maintaining its 2030 carbon peak and 2060 carbon neutrality targets. Kerry acknowledged China’s recent coal construction but explained it as a safeguard against potential electricity shortages. Vijay Vaitheeswaran of The Economist praised China’s clean-energy expansion, calling it ‘a gift to the planet’ and highlighting the global impact of inexpensive Chinese solar, wind, and battery technologies.