# Nicholas Burns Reflects on Bilateral Efforts to Address Climate Change in the Newest Episode of “Environmental Insights” June 09, 2025 Bilateral efforts to address climate change have come to a virtual standstill as U.S.-China relations took a turn for the worse in recent months. That’s the assessment offered by [Nicholas Burns](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/nicholas-burns), the Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at [Harvard Kennedy School](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/) and former U.S. Ambassador to China in the newest episode of “[Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program](https://soundcloud.com/environmentalinsights/).” The podcast is produced by the [Harvard Environmental Economics Program](http://www.heep.hks.harvard.edu/). Listen to the interview [here](https://on.soundcloud.com/5zA3QHezzs7zWUyXts). Hosted by [Robert N. Stavins](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/robert-stavins), A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development at [Harvard Kennedy School](http://www.hks.harvard.edu/) and director of the [Harvard Environmental Economics Program](http://www.heep.hks.harvard.edu/) and the [Harvard Project on Climate Agreements](https://www.belfercenter.org/project/harvard-project-climate-agreements), Environmental Insights is intended to promote public discourse on important issues at the intersection of economics and environmental policy. Burns, whose esteemed career in the civil service has spanned more than 30 years, said that the Biden administration had two major priorities for U.S.-China relations while he served as U.S. Ambassador from 2022-2025. “Competition for us was the main focus of our efforts with China, but we also knew…that we have to live in peace with China. The idea of a war would be catastrophic for both countries and the world, and there are some issues where our interests are aligned. We need to work together for the benefit of both of our countries and the world. And for me, I thought that signature issue was climate change, and that China and the United States could…work together both in the Paris Agreement process and also bilaterally,” he remarked. “I am someone who deeply believes in [the Paris Agreement](https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement), that we need to remain committed to working with China and the other 193 or four nation states as part of the [Conference of the Parties](https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/supreme-bodies/conference-of-the-parties-cop), and that this is an existential issue for the future of our planet, for the eight billion people who live on it.” Burns remarked that while the bilateral relationship may be primarily competitive, there are occasions when the two countries can work together as was the case when the United States and China negotiated and signed the [Sunnyland Statement](https://2021-2025.state.gov/sunnylands-statement-on-enhancing-cooperation-to-address-the-climate-crisis/) in 2023, affirming the two nations’ joint commitment to take actions to address climate change. “\[Former U.S. lead climate negotiator\] John Kerry and \[China's special climate envoy\] Xie Zhenhua spent a lot of time together… to achieve that statement where… they held up climate change as an issue where it was definitely in the interest of both countries and that both of us had to play a leadership role,” he stated. Burns spoke of his frustration with the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, in effect removing the United States from international climate negotiations. “I'm gravely disappointed to see the backsliding by the Trump administration on this issue. I guess we shouldn't be surprised given what President Trump did in his first term, and he threatened to pull us out this time, which he's now done, but that is not in our interest. In fact, it's really harmed our ability to protect our own country from the ravages of climate change, and it's harmed our global credibility as a leader in the world,” he remarked. “It's going to rebound not just on this issue, but I think in others as well.” Burns emphasized the importance of maintaining substantive communications with China even when the two countries disagree on some major issues “because I think it's fair to say this is our most important diplomatic relationship in the world. What happens in this relationship is going to drive a lot of history, our global history, in the next decade, two or three.” Burns also stated that students from the Kennedy School and elsewhere should consider a career in the civil service, even if they are currently disenchanted with the present political environment in Washington. “We need good men and women to go into public service in our country, to serve in the military, in the federal government, and especially in the State Department as we engage countries around the world. And I think that the pendulum will swing back towards an appreciation for nonpartisan public servants,” he said. “We've got to show the rest of the world and our own countrymen and women that we're as committed as they are to taking on the challenge of climate and to meeting it the only way that's going to be effective working with other countries, including China. So, if you're a young person listening, trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, there's so much good you can do.” Burns’ interview is the third episode during 2025 in the [Environmental Insights](https://soundcloud.com/environmentalinsights/) series, with additional episodes scheduled to drop each month. “Environmental Insights is intended to inform and educate listeners about important issues relating to an economic perspective on developments in environmental policy, including the design and implementation of market-based approaches to environmental protection,” said Stavins. “We speak with accomplished Harvard colleagues, other academics, and practitioners who are working on solving some of the most challenging public problems we face.” Environmental Insights is hosted on [SoundCloud](https://soundcloud.com/environmentalinsights) and is also available on [Amazon Music](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cd70f458-c1f4-4f11-bf64-c9e0dc71ee5b), [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/environmental-insights-conversations-on-policy-practice/id1482761966), [Pocket Casts](https://pca.st/keck3o78), [Podcast Addict](https://www.podcastaddict.com/podcast/3374959), and [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6WBWmeXTH90a3DoOYpXlhX). **LINK TO PODCAST:** [**https://on.soundcloud.com/5zA3QHezzs7zWUyXts**](https://on.soundcloud.com/5zA3QHezzs7zWUyXts) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)