We discussed the lack of leadership in global climate governance, particularly during the Trump and Biden administrations in the United States. The article points out that although the United States and Europe have close climate cooperation, their effectiveness in leading global climate governance is limited. The article cites the views of multiple scholars, emphasizing that international leadership requires followers, and leadership is an interactive process between leaders and followers. Leaders must meet the needs and desires of followers. At the same time, leadership not only has materiality, but also normativity, requiring moral appeal and psychological recognition. The article criticizes existing research for failing to distinguish between the concepts of "leadership" and "leadership", arguing that having a leadership position does not necessarily lead to leadership. Finally, the article proposes to construct a global climate governance leadership model consisting of authority, fairness, and effectiveness, and analyze the leadership of China France climate cooperation during the leadership gap in global climate governance.

1、 Lack of leadership during the global climate governance gap

The characteristics of the gap period in global climate governance include the lack of ideological consensus, competition in governance solutions, the failure of old systems, and the combination of power differentiation. Existing research emphasizes the leadership role of hegemony in global governance, but the deterioration of US China relations has not led to the disappearance of US hegemony. Instead, it has highlighted the dominant position of Western countries, but has failed to effectively lead global climate governance. Developing countries have increased their demand for developed countries to fulfill their financial obligations and provide assistance, but the global governance led by the United States and Europe is difficult to bridge the differences between the two sides. Global governance has downplayed the leadership role in traditional politics, with no hierarchy between subjects, but requires effective integration based on authoritative leadership. Leadership comes from a leader's adherence to ethical responsibility, fairness, maintaining public attributes, and meeting the practical interests of followers. Although the EU has leadership authority, its policies are radical, detached from the reality of developing countries, and lose fairness and effectiveness, making it unable to gain leadership. China US climate cooperation has gained leadership by balancing demands, maintaining fairness, and addressing specific issues. The new progress in Sino French relations provides opportunities for the two countries to exert leadership in global climate governance, which will be discussed from three aspects: authority, fairness, and effectiveness.

2、 The Authority of China France Climate Cooperation Leadership

Discussed the authoritative leadership of China and France in global climate governance. China and France have a crucial impact due to their greenhouse gas emissions and low-carbon economic strength, and are seen as potential candidates for global climate governance leaders. French President Macron expressed his willingness to take a leadership role in global climate governance, especially after the United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement. China and France have demonstrated their willingness to cooperate and lead global climate governance through joint statements and initiatives. In terms of economy and low-carbon technology, China has significant advantages in clean energy investment, photovoltaic modules, wind turbines, hydrogen energy, and electric vehicles, while France has advantages in nuclear energy. The political will and low-carbon economic strength of both countries provide a foundation for them to play a leading role in global climate governance.

3、 Fairness of China France Climate Cooperation Leadership

The issue of fairness in leadership in global climate governance was discussed, and it was pointed out that the global climate governance led by the United States and Europe has drawbacks, such as reduced participation of developing countries and lack of support for governance initiatives of developing countries. The advantage of China France cooperation in leading global climate governance lies in its closer relationship with developing countries. France is more inclined to support developing countries' participation in global climate governance, which enhances the fairness of China France climate cooperation leadership. The series of statements by China and France on climate financing for developing countries reflects this point. The Global Finance Compact Summit to be held in Paris in June 2023 is a practice of fairness in the leadership of China France climate cooperation, promoting the "Bridgetown Initiative" proposed by the Prime Minister of Barbados, calling for a delay in the debt obligations of disaster stricken developing countries, providing dedicated funds for post disaster recovery, and driving more private sector climate financing. Developing countries need trillions of dollars annually to address climate change, but developed countries have yet to fulfill the commitment made at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference to provide $100 billion annually. The joint hosting of the Global Financing Summit by the leaders of France and Barbados is a manifestation of the substantive participation rights of developing countries in global climate governance. The Chinese government firmly supports the financing initiative proposed by France. The Wuhan Sino French Ecological City project is a typical case of climate cooperation between China and France, integrating sustainable development technologies and experiences in urban planning, design, construction, and management, and becoming a model for international cooperation to promote green and low-carbon development. The experience accumulated by China France cooperation in carrying out low-carbon construction in typical cities in China, and then spreading this experience as a norm to the international community, fully respects China's substantive participation in global climate governance as a developing country, and demonstrates the fairness of China France leadership in global climate governance.

4、 The effectiveness of China France climate cooperation leadership

The effectiveness of China France climate cooperation leadership was discussed, emphasizing the moral high ground of China France cooperation in global climate governance and its specific assistance to developing countries. The third-party market cooperation between China and France focuses on infrastructure and energy, especially renewable energy and improving energy efficiency, aiming to address the specific issues of developing countries in dealing with climate change. The two countries have also signed a statement to deepen cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and jointly explore third-party markets. China France cooperation has established a complete framework in government coordination, enterprise project cooperation, and fund financial support. For example, the solar thermal power plant project built by China Power Construction Group and Schneider Electric in Morocco provides clean energy for the local area, reduces carbon emissions, and helps change the global energy landscape. In addition, Sino French cooperation also involves clean energy projects in other African countries, as well as port cooperation through the acquisition of port equity, emphasizing environmental protection work. The characteristics of Sino French cooperation include prioritizing climate change, targeted cooperation, and prioritizing Africa as a priority region. These characteristics make China France climate cooperation not only willing and capable, but also effective in solving specific problems for developing countries, thus gaining leadership in global climate governance.

Conclusion

Global climate governance leadership needs to combine strength, willingness, fairness, and effectiveness. During the current global climate governance gap, the leading role of trilateral cooperation between China, the United States, and Europe, as well as bilateral cooperation between China and the United States and China Europe, has weakened, while climate cooperation between China and France has become increasingly close. China and France have become leading countries in global climate governance and possess leadership by leveraging the advantages of low-carbon economy, firm political will, a fair stance towards developing countries, and the effectiveness of third-party market cooperation. This leadership stems from the tradition of independent diplomacy between China and France, daring to break down political barriers and jointly exert leadership. However, due to factors such as France's national strength, domestic politics, EU system, pressure from the United States, and differences in values, the leadership of Sino French cooperation is difficult to reach the level of comprehensive leadership between China and the United States. The leadership of China France cooperation is mainly reflected in the development field, including bridging climate financing differences, coordinating financing mechanisms, prioritizing the construction of energy projects in Africa, etc., which has a positive significance for promoting the development of global climate governance.