Is China our best hope to save the planet?

Climate One conversations with oil companies and environmentalists, Republicans and Democrats, are recorded at the Commonwealth Club of California and hosted by Greg Dalton.

Chinese factories churn out part and products that end up in our cars, our kitchens, and our cell phones.

And all that productivity has improved the lives of its citizens, many of whom can now afford cars and cell phones of their own.

It's also made China the global leader in carbon emissions, but that tide may be turning.

Just like Bill Clinton said, it's the economy stupid.

Every government needs to provide that prosperity, but China has now moved beyond that to understand.

That's not enough.

It has to provide for a better quality of life

and environmental and health protections.

In her new book, Will China Save the Planet?

Barbara Finnamor says that China may well take the lead

in saving the world from environmental catastrophe.

How?

By phasing out coal and investing in green energy to power its factories

and keep its cities moving. But as Carter Roberts of the World Wildlife Fund points out,

one country can't do it alone. All the nations of the world, when they get back together again

in Poland, we're going to have to double down on their commitments because we are not on

path to reach the goal set in Paris. On today's program, we'll hear about some bright spots

in the climate fight, from electric buses in China to reforestation in Colombia, and about some

unlikely corporate warriors who are working to reduce their carbon footprints and green

up their supply chains. Barbara Finnamor founded the China program for the Natural Resources

...