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The problem right there is that China will increase their pollution just by raising their living standards to the Western levels. So if they don't play ball, th

The problem right there is that China will increase their pollution just by raising their living standards to the Western levels. So if they don't play ball, the whole game is over. In my understanding China doesn't care about the climate as much as about the air their people have to breath. Their environmental policies seem to be targeted exclusively at public health issues, and then only the more serious ones. The bigger, necessary solutions are not implemented anywhere, yet. Those countries who do not participate will leap ahead in industrial development, while those who do may not be able to slow climate change enough.

chmod775 7y ago
> In my understanding China doesn't care about the climate as much as about the air their people have to breath. Their environmental policies seem to be targeted exclusively at public health issues, and then only the more serious ones. Public health issues like air pollution. That might be the reason they're investing so heavily in renewables, but it doesn't change the fact that they are. The percentage of renewable energy in China has steadily increased over the years. They are now at 25% vs just 11% in the US. I'd have to look up their nuclear numbers though.
- bayesian_horse 7y ago
  I don't think that a desire for slowing climate change or some kind of compliance with the international trend, is the driver of their renewable energies strategy. China has only very little fossil fuel available, and coal tends to be labor intensive (another thing they are running out of) and very dirty locally. So to meet their energy demands and be less dependent on the oil market, they probably should invest in renewable sources. And it doesn't hurt that they can build up the production capacity for such sources through public investment. They are also building lots of nuclear plants. Which is a lot easier when citizens generally don't feel like objecting much.

chmod775 7y ago

> In my understanding China doesn't care about the climate as much as about the air their people have to breath. Their environmental policies seem to be targeted exclusively at public health issues, and then only the more serious ones. Public health issues like air pollution. That might be the reason they're investing so heavily in renewables, but it doesn't change the fact that they are. The percentage of renewable energy in China has steadily increased over the years. They are now at 25% vs just 11% in the US. I'd have to look up their nuclear numbers though.

bayesian_horse 7y ago
I don't think that a desire for slowing climate change or some kind of compliance with the international trend, is the driver of their renewable energies strategy. China has only very little fossil fuel available, and coal tends to be labor intensive (another thing they are running out of) and very dirty locally. So to meet their energy demands and be less dependent on the oil market, they probably should invest in renewable sources. And it doesn't hurt that they can build up the production capacity for such sources through public investment. They are also building lots of nuclear plants. Which is a lot easier when citizens generally don't feel like objecting much.