SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — China has been running a climate change con against the rest of the world for at least a decade now. The latest moves in that con took place at the G20 meeting in Bali and the COP27 United Nations climate change conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Here's how the most recent round played out. Back in August, China "suspended" climate talks with the U.S. in retaliation for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D–Calif.) visit to Taiwan. President Joe Biden went to Bali, where he appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to reengage with the U.S. on climate change issues. Xi magnanimously assented.
"The U.S. side is committed to keeping the channels of communication open between the two presidents and at all levels of government" so as to "strengthen necessary cooperation and play a key role in addressing climate change, food security and other important global challenges," according to the official Chinese government statement. "The two countries will jointly work for the success of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change." This supposed breakthrough was widely hailed by officials and activists alike.
