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Dialog for the Sake of Dialog: Obstacles to China–EU Climate and Environmental Cooperation

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  • Barbara Pongratz
  • Wiebke Rabe

Abstract

In light of the United States' withdrawal from and re‐entry into the Paris Agreement, climate relations between the European Union and China warrant closer inspection. As the second‐ and third‐largest cumulative emitters after the United States, their cooperation has a global impact. This paper assesses the current state of their climate and environmental engagement and analyzes post‐COVID‐19 obstacles affecting this dimension of their relations. Based on interview data, we show that the increasing institutionalization of climate and environmental cooperation has not resulted in improved outcomes. Instead, such engagement remains limited to dialog for the sake of dialog rather than substantive collaboration. We identify four key obstacles to cooperation: perceptual, capacity‐related, institutional, and interest‐based. This paper addresses pertinent questions about the viability and practicality of joint climate action in the context of rising geopolitical tensions. Our findings contribute to scholarship on global climate governance and EU–China relations, and we propose an analytical framework to inform future research and policy debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Pongratz & Wiebke Rabe, 2025. "Dialog for the Sake of Dialog: Obstacles to China–EU Climate and Environmental Cooperation," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 16(5), pages 840-851, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:glopol:v:16:y:2025:i:5:p:840-851
    DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.70071
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adolphsen, Ole & Könneke, Jule & Schenuit, Felix, 2025. "The international dimension of European climate policy: A strategy for integrating the internal and external dimensions," SWP Comments 3/2025, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
    2. Nataliya Stranadko, 2022. "Global climate governance: rising trend of translateral cooperation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 639-657, December.
    3. Xinqing Lu & Erpu Zhu & Loyle Campbell & Manfred Hafner & Michel Noussan & Pier Paolo Raimondi, 2021. "Comparison between China, the EU and the US’s climate and energy governance: How policies are made and implemented at different levels," Working Papers 2021.34, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    4. Lu, Xinqing & Zhu, Erpu & Campbell, Loyle & Hafner, Manfred & Noussan, Michel & Raimondi, Pier Paolo, "undated". "Comparison between China, the EU and the US's climate and energy governance: How policies are made and implemented at different levels," FEEM Working Papers 317745, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    5. Vincent K. L. Chang & Frank N. Pieke, 2018. "Europe’s engagement with China: shifting Chinese views of the EU and the EU-China relationship," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 317-331, December.
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