Opinion | Xi Thinks China Can Slow Climate Change. What if He’s Right?

11 comments

1. >From the American neoliberal economic viewpoint, a state-led push like this might seem illegitimate or even unfair.

   I’m sorry, what?!

   Anyway, people can complain all they want about China’s continued investment in fossil fuels (though I’d remind them that the US today produces and exports more oil than ever before in its history). But it’s obvious I think that China will reach something close to net-zero before most of the rest of the world, probably including the US. Their investments designed to make that happen are on another level compared to the rest of the world’s.

2. They are by far the biggest polluters…

   … regardless of the reasons for that.

   AND I firmly believe the rest of the world needs to continue to do better in this regard.

3. I got my own problems with how they do some things but tbh if we’re going to succeed in mitigating climate change it’s going to be because of China. The Profit Motive will never abide what’s necessary to achieve a successful transition, but a state like China can just bypass this entirely. It won’t be perfect but it’s more than any greenwashed carbon shell games we’ve been doing

4. Considering China is currently the largest emitter, yes, they can do something about it. Polluting more than the US is truly an embarrassing crown to wear.

5. I mean, good? Let China do it, almost all solar panels are already manufactured in China, as are a lot of batteries.

   If the US worries this could threaten their influence, maybe they could try catching up instead and engage in a green space race instead of making excuses as to why they are no longer the world leader on green technology.

6. Do it.

7. Not by having the max number of coal fired power plants.

   “As of July 2023, China has the most coal-fired power plants in the world, with 1,142 operational plants on the Chinese mainland. This is more than four times the number of coal power plants in India, which is second. China also has the highest installed capacity of coal power plants in the world, with plants operating at a combined capacity of 1,108.91 gigawatts as of July 2023.”

8. Do it, mr. coal burner

9. Thinking and doing are two different equations.

10. I hope so. The us certainly ain’t gonna be the leader. And the EU doesnt have the pull.

11. He said he would take away poverty and he did, he said he would give everybody a toilet and he did, so why not change, climate change