The Institute for Security Studies published on 14 August 2026 a paper titled "US-China Rivalry Puts Africa's Climate Diplomacy to the Test" by Dhesigen Naidoo.
China has been a consistent signatory of the Paris Agreement while the Trump administration withdrew from it during both its first and second iterations.
The author argues that Africa must maintain a positive climate-action approach while navigating the American anti-climate stance. US support for fossil fuel-based development has gained momentum, slowing Africa's pathway to low carbon development.
