More often than not, the media focuses on the partisan nature of environmental policy, particularly climate change. In truth, however, the United States has achieved numerous environmental successes in recent years—breakthroughs that are now a crucial, and underutilized, advantage in Washington’s strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
During the Trump administration, agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made significant advances in environmental quality, conservation, and non-partisan environmental science. This leadership, embraced by allies and partners around the world, stands in stark contrast to China’s worldwide reputation for environmental degradation and broken promises.