Neil Thompson: Dragon Ascendant: Green China, not Red China, increasingly Bestrides the World

Neil Thompson writes about the Dragon Ascendant: Green China, not Red China, increasingly Bestrides the World.

Regardless, many offenders are now facing being hit with fines and criminal offenses as a result of their emissions. It is all part of an increasing effort by China’s top leadership to “Go Green” after decades of focus on economic growth above all. Prompted at first by fears of social unrest and the environmental consequences of careless pollution China’s leadership is increasingly interested in using green technology as the next step in its industrial development. For example, with electric cars rapidly becoming cheaper than traditional gasoline powered vehicles in many markets, China is stealing a march on its rivals by becoming the largest market for manufacturers. Beijing already leads the world in its manufacture and use of solar power and other renewable energy sources. It could soon be the largest manufacturers of modern vehicles as well.

Interestingly, under Xi China is also building the world’s most advanced carbon trading system and solar highways to generate electricity, which clearly shows were Beijing believes the future lies. China currently produces 78 gigawatts of solar power and is aiming for 105 by 2020. Embarrassingly for America, China also remained in the Paris Agreement when President Trump withdrew from the Obama-era international agreement, deflecting attention from China’s own actions on climate change at a stroke. Despite the air pollution that still hurts its efforts, the nation remains the world’s leading solar energy producer by quite some margin and China also gets 4 percent of its energy from wind power, of which it is one of the top three global markets.

Emphasis Mine

Solar roadways are a waste of money.

It is interesting how the Chinese regime are responding to the concerns of its citizens. And how the regime is turning these concerns into a business opportunity.

Don't forget that geopolitical concerns are driving China to green energy. These concerns centre around the US's control of the majority of the oil reserves through its proxies in Europe and Saudi Arabia, while the US attacks errant oil-producing nations like Iran and Venezuela. Green energy for China means energy independence.

Strange how political and economic concerns is leading towards a better environment.