Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues

The Georgetown University Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues addresses climate change-related issues and opportunities for cooperation through research, publications, and events that engage faculty, students, and leading stakeholders in both countries.

From spring 2016 to fall 2017, the U.S.-China Research Group on Climate Change, convened by Joanna Lewis of Georgetown University in collaboration with Zhang Xiliang of Tsinghua University, brought together a team of experts from the United States and China for a structured dialogue around key academic and policy issues relating to clean energy technology cooperation, climate finance, and climate policy implementation. The research group met three times in Washington, DC, and Beijing to advance a shared research agenda and inform relevant stakeholders for better policy and practical cooperation in bilateral and multilateral contexts.

From 2018 to 2020 the U.S.-China Energy and Climate Cooperation Working Group, led by Joanna Lewis, held quarterly convenings for stakeholders to share information on ongoing “Track I” activities, opportunities for “Track II” cooperation, and developments in U.S. and Chinese energy and climate policy that influence the bilateral dynamic and wider global agenda.

Established in 2021, the U.S.-China Climate Study Group brings together a group of climate and energy policy experts from the United States and China to participate in a virtual program of seminars aimed at understanding global climate policy developments. Members of the group are invited to engage in open and frank discussion surrounding a specific topic introduced by an invited speaker. Recent topics have included carbon border adjustments in the EU, emissions trading in China, and the U.S. climate select committee report of the U.S. Congress. Participation in the study group is by invitation only. The group is led by Professor Joanna Lewis. The Georgetown U.S.-China Climate Study Group is convened in partnership with the Georgetown U.S.-China Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues. Support for the study group is provided by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

For an overview of Georgetown’s engagement with climate change issues across schools and programs, visit the Global Georgetown website.