China is frequently labeled as the world's biggest CO2 emitter, but unfortunately the discussion of China's role in international struggle with climate change often ends there. It is true that China is the largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, but there is more to China's rise than simply contributing to an international problem. Perhaps psychologically, Americans favor that viewpoint to cover up the fact that America, the country with the highest per-capita emissions rate, isn't doing enough to mitigate climate change.
As China has risen, its leaders have increasingly turned to more rational policies, knowing that only those will gain China strong international allies and give its rise a true foundation. Along these lines, China has begun to use its economic and political might to mold itself into a nation prepared for the environmental challenges of the 21st century. Most recently, the Chinese government highlighted the importance of the environment in its 12th Five Year Plan:
http://www.kpmg.com/CN/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Publicationseries/5-years-plan/Documents/China-12th-Five-Year-Plan-Overview-201104.pdf
In fact, Chinese government officials have already started working with the United States in a joint organization known as the CERC. The two countries have pledged $150,000,000 to the CERC, which brings together American and Chinese scientists to work on clean energy technology. Moreover, it exemplifies the kind of partnership the United States and China need to have in order to tackle the world's most prominent environmental issues: http://www.us-china-cerc.org/
Contrary to popular belief, China is also the world leader in renewable energy investments. According to Jack Perkowski of Forbes,
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| Barack Obama and Hu Jintao agree to the CERC |
As China has risen, its leaders have increasingly turned to more rational policies, knowing that only those will gain China strong international allies and give its rise a true foundation. Along these lines, China has begun to use its economic and political might to mold itself into a nation prepared for the environmental challenges of the 21st century. Most recently, the Chinese government highlighted the importance of the environment in its 12th Five Year Plan:
http://www.kpmg.com/CN/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Publicationseries/5-years-plan/Documents/China-12th-Five-Year-Plan-Overview-201104.pdf
In fact, Chinese government officials have already started working with the United States in a joint organization known as the CERC. The two countries have pledged $150,000,000 to the CERC, which brings together American and Chinese scientists to work on clean energy technology. Moreover, it exemplifies the kind of partnership the United States and China need to have in order to tackle the world's most prominent environmental issues: http://www.us-china-cerc.org/
Contrary to popular belief, China is also the world leader in renewable energy investments. According to Jack Perkowski of Forbes,
I don't know about you, but I'd say that for a quickly rising new superpower of over a billion people, China isn't doing too bad on the clean energy front. I don't seem to recall the West trying to mitigate climate change during its industrial revolution.... kudos to the PRCChina was responsible for almost one-fifth of total global investment, spending $52 billion on renewable energy last year. The United States was close behind with investments of $51 billion, as developers sought to benefit from government incentive programs before they expired. Germany, Italy and India rounded out the list of the top five countries.According to China’s 12th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2011-2015), the country will spend $473.1 billion on clean energy investments over the next five years. China’s goal is to have 20 percent of its total energy demand sourced from renewable energy by 2020.
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