Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, posing significant challenges to both China and the United States. As the world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide, both countries are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather. The economic and technological competition between these two nations will be shaped by their ability to adapt to these changes. China has been proactive in integrating climate adaptation into its policy planning for over a decade, with a strong focus on infrastructure resilience, early warning systems, and financial tools to manage climate risk. In contrast, the United States has no consistent national strategy and has failed to address the negative financial consequences of extreme weather, despite warnings from the Government Accountability Office since 2013. The U.S. has made some progress at the local level, but more than half the states do not have their own adaptation plans. The economic and technological competition between China and the United States will be shaped by their ability to adapt to climate change. China's proactive approach to climate adaptation, including significant investments in infrastructure, early warning systems, and financial tools, positions it to gain substantial advantages over the United States. The U.S. risks falling behind in emerging industries, becoming less attractive to investors, and facing skyrocketing disaster response bills if it fails to prioritize climate adaptation. China's dominance in clean energy industries and its ability to produce adaptation technologies at scale present an economic opportunity that the U.S. risks missing out on. The U.S. must act now to protect its infrastructure and economic assets from the consequences of climate change.
