While Australia debates the merits of going nuclear and frustration grows over the slower-than-needed switch to solar and wind power, China's renewables rollout is breaking all the records.
Both the US and China should be held accountable and you should make excuses for neither. We all know coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, and China still consumes over 50% of the entire world’s yearly coal. China is responsible for the largest share of CO2 emissions each year by far, and only China can take action to change that, regardless of any per capita measure
While I don’t want to be an apologist for China, you might pay attention to the pace of their renewables buildout, and their plans. Also consider quality of life where at the same time they are providing power to millions of new customers
Most importantly, we’re criticizing them because they are one of very few countries that are ahead of their commitment? Or are we criticizing them for being in pace with the rest of the world combined? There are far more worthy issues to criticize China for: can’t we be happy with the win?
I live in a small European nation with ~11m inhabitants. We are phasing out nuclear energy and opening… Natural gas power plants. Our emissions will go higher because of that. At the same time, China is lowering its emissions of GHG. Yes, we will still produce less pollution than a country with literally more than 100x people living in it, but individually, we will produce more than the average Chinese citizen.
Should countries produce the same amount of GHG regardless of size?
Do we expect Germany to be on the same level as Luxembourg?
China is a semi dictatorship that’s committing Genocide and produces a lot of pollution but we can’t ignore that its size plays a role in that.
At the same time, China is lowering its emissions of GHG.
No they’re not, they’re increasing both renewable and hydrocarbon-based energy production. The US is actually lowering CO2 emissions, having peaked in 2007 and trending lower every year since. We should celebrate China investing in low or no carbon technologies, but don’t give them more credit than is due. There’s still a long way to go all around
Both the US and China should be held accountable and you should make excuses for neither. We all know coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, and China still consumes over 50% of the entire world’s yearly coal. China is responsible for the largest share of CO2 emissions each year by far, and only China can take action to change that, regardless of any per capita measure
While I don’t want to be an apologist for China, you might pay attention to the pace of their renewables buildout, and their plans. Also consider quality of life where at the same time they are providing power to millions of new customers
Most importantly, we’re criticizing them because they are one of very few countries that are ahead of their commitment? Or are we criticizing them for being in pace with the rest of the world combined? There are far more worthy issues to criticize China for: can’t we be happy with the win?
I live in a small European nation with ~11m inhabitants. We are phasing out nuclear energy and opening… Natural gas power plants. Our emissions will go higher because of that. At the same time, China is lowering its emissions of GHG. Yes, we will still produce less pollution than a country with literally more than 100x people living in it, but individually, we will produce more than the average Chinese citizen. Should countries produce the same amount of GHG regardless of size? Do we expect Germany to be on the same level as Luxembourg? China is a semi dictatorship that’s committing Genocide and produces a lot of pollution but we can’t ignore that its size plays a role in that.
No they’re not, they’re increasing both renewable and hydrocarbon-based energy production. The US is actually lowering CO2 emissions, having peaked in 2007 and trending lower every year since. We should celebrate China investing in low or no carbon technologies, but don’t give them more credit than is due. There’s still a long way to go all around