Energy and climate policy under the Trump administration | Brookings Institution

Considering the brookings institute is a left-wing think tank, I'm not sure they can be objective. China will never be able to lead unless they actually clean up their own environment. Also, to clean up the pollution will take immeasurable amounts of capital which they don't have and it will drive up the costs of goods being manufactured in their country which is one of the reasons they are looking to Africa for cheaper labor. No one will follow them while they see their pollution clouding their industrial cities.

China leading climate policy? Really? Has anyone looked at the atmosphere in Beijing lately? Meanwhile, the US which didn't sign the Kyoto Accords, led the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Many nations that signed, increased theirs. If the Paris Agreement goes the same way, the only thing Beijing will lead the world in will be the size of its personal oxygen tanks.

It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.
Yogi Berra