China’s Green Triumph

China is Equipping other Countries to Fight Climate Change. In the U.S. the Trump (R) Administration is Reversing efforts to Protect the Climate. In Europe, Nations Grapple with How, and how Quickly, to embrace a Green Future.

At the same time, something Remarkable is happening in other parts of the World. Countries with Big and Quickly growing Economies are taking Advantage of China’s Emergence as a Renewable Energy Superpower. They are going Green in a hurry.

Countries like Brazil, India, and Vietnam, are Rapidly expanding Solar and Wind Power. Poorer Countries like Ethiopia and Nepal, are Leapfrogging over Gasoline-burning Cars to Battery-Powered ones. Nigeria, a Petrostate, Plans to Build its First Solar-Panel Manufacturing Plant. Morocco is creating a Battery Hub to Supply European Automakers. Santiago, Chile, has Electrified more than Half of its Bus Fleet in recent years.

China makes that possible, Exporting Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, Batteries, and Electric Vehicles all over the Developing World while Investing Billions in Factories that make those things in the Nations where they are Sold.

It won’t solve the Problem of Climate Change, the Reporters say. Most Countries continue to get most of their Energy from Fossil Fuels. They Mine Coal, build Coal Plants and Produce Oil. China alone Emits more Greenhouse Gases than the U.S. and the European Union combined. There’s still plenty of Smoke in the Air.

But the Falling Price of China’s Renewable Tech has allowed Developing Countries to Satisfy a Larger percentage of their Energy needs internally. It Reduces their Reliance on Imported Fuel and Develops their Economies.

“Emerging economies are a very important part of the story,” an Environmental Advocacy Researcher said. “The reason we should be paying attention is that they have the most people in the world, they have the largest number of poor people in the world, and their energy demands are growing. If these economies don’t change, there’s no chance for the world to get to a safer place.”

Somini and Brad says that looks like in Practice. Ethiopia has Banned the Importing of New Gasoline-powered Cars, they write. Nepal has Lowered Import Taxes for Electric Vehicles so they’re Cheaper than Gas ones. Brazil raised Tariffs on Imported Cars to help persuade Chinese Automakers to build Plants there.

China is Investing Heavily, nearly a Quarter Trillion dollars since 2011, they Report, with most of that Money going to what’s known as the Global South. Adjusted for Inflation, that is more Money than the U.S. put into the Marshall Plan after World War II.

A Decade ago, the U.S. and Europe were Pressuring Developing Nations to take Faster Action on Climate Change. Now the Economics have Changed, and Developing Nations are Delivering what Appears to be Good News for the Planet.

India, for example, recently announced that Half of its Demand for Electricity, can now be satisfied by Renewable Energy from Wind, Sun, and Water, Five years Earlier than the 2030 Target it had set in the Paris Agreement.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker