How climate change is discussed in China

Climate change has become a part of everyday life in China – here, tourists in Shanghai gather around a cooling mist dispenser.

In China, the fear of climate change doesn’t translate into activism. Instead, the government offers hope through technological solutions. However, among the population, there remains a lingering diffuse anxiety in the face of extreme weather events, which finds its outlets in other areas.

In China, people worry about climate change just like anywhere else. However, taking to the streets or spraying paint on landmarks is not an option in this authoritarian state to vent their concerns. Nevertheless, the Chinese people already feel the effects of changing weather patterns in catastrophic ways. In January 2023, the Chinese Meteorological Administration declared that China’s climate in 2022 was clearly anomalous and trending towards extremes. The summer saw record-high temperatures and unexpected cold snaps occurred in the fall.

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