The days when emissions levels and energy policies in China and India were held up as excuses by the rest of the world’s economic leaders for doing nothing about climate and energy seem to be over—almost. (Some reasons why the China argument doesn’t pan out, here, here, and here—and here are some compelling reasons why climate solutions can be a boon to the economy rather than a strain.)
Today, in global talks, in the Senate, on the street, you still hear a murmur here and there about “not doing anything until India and China sign on.” And this previously pervasive attitude, however obsolete, may already be coming back to bite the long-industrialized nations of the West. Indeed, the big honchos in the West may find themselves borrowing and begging for new technologies that China has been busy perfecting all along.
Or maybe we’ll just be sulking about the fact that China’s economy is happily unhitched from the fossil fuel rollercoaster long before ours…
Could it be that China is winning the clean energy race? Here are some tidbits gathered by MicCheck Radio and Sightline that make the case:
- Yes, it’s true. “China recently passed the United States as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions and together the two countries account for 42 percent of the world’s emissions.” [Reuters]
- Also: Coal accounts for almost 80 percent of electricity generation in China, compared to about 49 percent in the United States. [Reuters]
- However, China may be pulling ahead in the global clean-energy race, thanks to “lagging US policies, which will leave the United States at a disadvantage in the next big industry.” [Wall Street Journal]
- AND…China invested $12 billion in renewable energy in 2007, placing second in the world in absolute dollars spent, just behind Germany. Indian government revealed that it would provide $100 billion in subsidies over 20 years to utilities for buying solar-generated power. President Obama made a campaign pledge to spend $15 billion promoting clean energy, “a promise that has been gutted by the horse-trading in the Congressional fight over the [energy and] climate bill.” [Wall Street Journal] Canada’s Economic Action Plan establishes a $1 billion Clean Energy Fund—there may be other Canadian clean-energy investments that I’m not aware of.
- China is expected to unveil an extensive and unprecedented stimulus package (reported to be in the range of $440 billion to $660 billion) dedicated entirely to new energy development over the next decade. As part of the Recovery Act, the Obama administration is investing $80 billion to support clean-energy solutions.
- Overall, China’s goal is to generate 10 percent of its electricity with renewable sources of energy by 2010, and 15 percent by 2020. [China Daily, Celsias]
- China’s total wind energy capacity doubled in each of the past four years. This year it will surpass the US as the largest installer of new wind capacity. (Only one of the top five wind-turbine companies in the US is actually American—it’s GE).
- Finally…China is expected to build the equivalent of the entire US building stock in the next 15 years, making it a tremendous “laboratory” for energy efficient building designs and technology. [Reuters]
Some promising news: China and the United States recently announced a joint project to develop a clean energy research center. With initial financing of $15 million and headquarters in both countries, the center will focus on coal, clean buildings, and efficient vehicles, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced yesterday. Still, the race is on!
As Washington’s former governor, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, put it, “The Chinese are taking unprecedented action. They are a model for developing countries around the world.” But maybe they’re also a model for the developed countries.
Venture capitalist John Doerr, testifying before the US Senate, put it this way, referring to America’s place in the clean-energy race, “We barely got a dog in the fight, we’re barely in the game right now.”
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Elizabeth Thomsen under a Creative Commons license.
Chan
Here are a few more interesting points to add to your list :Al Gore (Dec 2008, Poznan, Poland): “Chinese leaders are mobilizing a national effort to introduce CO2 reduction initiatives, and have already begun the largest tree-planting program the world has ever seen”( Source : http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/12/content_10496744.htm)John Kerry (Dec 2008) : “China is taking a variety of climate-friendly actions, including establishing auto emissions standards tougher than those in the United States and setting ambitious goals to improve energy efficiency”( Source : http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/12/content_10496744.htm )Back in 2006, China unilaterally kicked off the most aggressive energy-efficiency program in the history of the entire world, which aimed to produce carbon dioxide emissions reduction almost 5 TIMES greater than the ENTIRE European Union had committed to achieve under the Kyoto Protocol.( Source : http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090504/parenti/print )In 2006, in an effort to create the ultimate clean energy, China spearheaded the largest and most expensive thermonuclear fusion technology project in the world, creating the so-called “artificial sun”.( Source 1 : http://www.physorg.com/news88097920.html )( Source 2 : http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-09/28/content_699035.htm )
Ben Gee
China, the world’s most poluted country, has no choice but to invest in clean energy. Polution kills an estimated 600000 persons in China every year. China is also very energy inefficient. Investing in clean energy will not only save the environment, it will save the economy as well. If China find a way to control fusion, it will become a true world leader. China is using the present world crises as an opportunity, but China has a long way to go. The developing world is starting to trust China. What the world need is the developed world start to trust China. When that happen, the whole world will benefit.
Anna Fahey
Thanks for adding more info! All of this adds up to what should be a simple conclusion for the United States and our industrialized friends: If we want to be competitive—especially with China—when it comes to a clean, green, and mean workforce and new energy economy, we need to make competitive investments.