When you look at our planet today and search for two of the biggest influencers in the world, China and the US spring to the top of most people’s lists. No doubt there are other countries that people would argue for, but the simple fact is that America is the current dominant force and China is the rising economic force. As such, one of them is going to have to make a move to spur genuine international action on climate change.

David Hawkins, a climate expert of the environmental group the National Resources Defense Council, believes that China is only going to make a move once America does.

"My impression is that the national government — top level ministry officials — in China regard the threats of global warming to their country with a much higher level of seriousness than their counterparts do here in the United States," he said.

The theory is that because China sees environmental problems as current and major problems that need to be dealt with now, they will be more likely to follow in America’s footsteps when they make a move. Sadly, he doesn’t think that they’re alone in waiting for US leadership.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke this past week at a special UN conference on climate change in New York, indicating that the US may be willing to move soon. This after George Bush — at his own climate change conference last week — lamely announced that voluntary measures to tackle global warming was a possible idea for the future.

"It is striking that the administration at the moment in the international conversation seems to be pretty isolated," said John Ashton, Britain’s climate envoy, in response to Bush’s ideas. "I think that the argument that we can do this through voluntary approaches is now pretty much discredited internationally."

So when Condoleezza Rice spoke, her words brought a little more hope to some of us. "Ultimately, we must develop and bring to market new energy technologies that transcend the current system of fossil fuels, carbon emissions and economic activity. Put simply, the world needs a technological revolution."

This is a type of message we like to hear, especially considering how important new technologies — especially when partnered with renewable energies such as solar and wind — will be to our future.

Hawkins also believes that technological advance is going to be the draw card for China to get in on the game.

"The biggest carrot is to have the U.S. to take a leadership role," he said. "Then countries like China are going to say, ‘What does the United States know that we don’t know?’ and agree to their own cuts," said Hawkins.

So hopefully, when America gets tough on emissions both by regulation and through development of new technology, China will step in to the arena as well. And as the most polluted country in the world, there can only be one way to go: up!

For a related article, check out Maria’s US, China Partner on Efficiency – Can It Make a Difference?

ENN - Expert says China would follow U.S. lead on climate