Editor's note: Stephen Ndegwa is a Nairobi-based communication expert, scholar and lecturer at the United States International University-Africa, author and international affairs columnist. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

This week closed on an upbeat mood for both environmentalists and humanity worldwide. Many are even daring to hope that the days of tension between the U.S. and China might witness an about turn with the meeting of climate change players between the two countries on Thursday.

On China's invitation, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry met some top Chinese climate officials for discussions in Shanghai on Thursday. The talks were a prelude to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to be held in Glasgow, the United Kingdom, from November 1 to 12.

Still in furtherance of the climate agenda, on April 16, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the China-France-Germany leaders' climate summit via video link in Beijing at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. His attendance in person in the meeting with his presidential counterparts was a huge statement that China is ready to lead from the front in meeting all global commitments in tackling climate change.

As the world's two largest economies, both China and the U.S. account for 43 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. This means that they also bear the biggest burden in ensuring the reduction of global warming and ensuring that the world does not exceed the 1.5 degrees centigrade increase in temperatures as agreed in the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The two economic giants owe this moral obligation to progeny.

Now, with his planned Earth Day Summit planned to take place on April 21 and 22, Biden wants not only to claw back on former President Donald Trump's climate intransigence on climate issues but also to set the agenda for current and future talks. While this is commendable, the U.S. should take into cognizance the fact that the world had moved on after Trump withdrew from the Paris Accord in June 2017.

Trump asserted that climate change is a hoax. Moreover, he attributed the withdrawal to "the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers by U.S. pledges made under the Agreement." But corporate America was largely opposed to Trump's assertions, which means that Biden's climate strategy is in luck.

As the most technologically advanced countries, the U.S. and China are also expected to be at the forefront in the research, development, and deployment of carbon-free technologies both at the domestic and industrial levels.

Therefore, this is not a time for the U.S. to make condescending demands against China. As Biden plays catch up, he needs to accept that the country filled the void when America absconded under Trump and instead seek equal partnership, rather than purport to get back in the saddle of the climate change agenda. Today, China leads countries constantly coming up with clean and renewable energy innovations along the entire supply chain.

According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, the second-largest economy is currently the world's largest producer of wind and solar energy and the largest domestic and outbound investor in renewable energy.

This places the country at the center of both climate innovation and supply chains. It does not sound like an entity that needs to be pushed but consulted on the best approaches in transiting to green technologies.

China's commitment and subsequent actions to drastically reduce carbon emissions have seen the country emerge as a pioneer in sustainable development and a major advocate in the fight against climate change.

The country has called for a "green recovery" during a series of high-profile international conferences, usually attended by Xi, pledging to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

China has offered support to areas with favorable conditions to enable them peak the emissions ahead of schedule, according to the annual Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2020. Green industries will become a new growth driver.

The concepts of China's high-quality development, such as environmental protection, will force traditional sectors to pursue green development and enable more green industries to emerge.

It is not by accident that world leaders are seeking out China at this critical moment that the world needs to speak as one on climate change matters. China's social and economic success story in effectively handling the coronavirus pandemic while major countries dithered and bore its brunt has given the country the legitimacy needed to lead a global agenda of an apparently insurmountable magnitude like climate change.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world hopes that the U.S. is not planning to open another war front in its geopolitical duel with China. Just like the pandemic has shown, we are all in this together, and no one is safe until all of us are.

China has shown its willingness to take the bull by the horns in tackling its challenges. It is only natural that its counsel on climate governance is used as a guide to global climate action.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com)