CHINA ATTACKS REPORT OF ITS EMISSIONS

This news story is especially important to think about now that the final report from the UN's Nobel-winning IPCC has been published: Global warming is called 'unequivocal'

The IEA report (which the Chinese defensively attacked) was described by its economist-author as the gloomiest IEA report ever. The IEA executive director added: "Actions, decisions should be taken now…The primary scarcity facing the planet is not natural resources, or money, but time."

A Chinese spokesman made an interesting point: “The results of looking at developing countries like China and India through Western eyes, through developed country eyes, are different from the results of looking at China or India through the eyes of a developing country…”

The Chinese certainly have a valid point. But in light of the IPCC report, NewEnergyNews has a strong inclination to think "...the truth hurts."

Meanwhile, the current administration remains silent. Perhaps its disregard of climate change issues is too nefarious for it to feign defensiveness?

China attacks “subjective” IEA energy outlook
Emma Graham-Harrison, November 9, 2007 (Reuters via Malaysia Star)

WHO
International Energy Agency (IEA) (Fatih Birol, chief economist/report author & Nobuo Tanaka, executive director); Wang Siqiang, vice-director, China energy office; Li Junfeng, China Energy Research Institute;

China's defensiveness is understandable but the study offers varying scenarios. Which will China choose? (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Wang and Li attacked the IEA’s “World Energy Outlook 2007” prediction that China will become the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) soon and shortly after that the world’s biggest consumer of energy.

WHEN
China is predicted to become the world’s biggest GHG emitter in 2007 and the world’s biggest consumer of energy soon after 2010.

WHERE
Neither Chinese official indicated what part of the 600 page report they specifically disagreed with.

The IEA does not spare China's economic rivals. (click to enlarge)

WHY
- IEA is energy advisory to 26 industrialized countries in Europe and the developed world. China and the IEA agree they are anxious to continue a cooperative relationship.
- China officially rejects the widely held western premise that rapidly growing consumption there, in India and in the rest of the developing economies of Asia is driving up the cost of oil.
- China also resents the widely reported emphasis on total emissions and argues that its per capita emissions are still quite low. The IEA report includes per capita emissions statistics.

QUOTES
- Wang: "Some of the assumptions are quite subjective…I hope that for future analyses they could set up different assumptions and make it closer to reality…based on facts…but even if the IEA's results were entirely wrong it is still helpful that they have done this report…"
- Li: "It lacks a political background...I am concerned that such a report may be used for other purposes by some people…"