CHINA TO CLEAN UP ENERGY?

In this year-end official report the Chinese government is, like the Bush administration, unabashed about its first concern, the economy.

US and Chinese emissions are the largest in the world. US per capita energy consumption is about as bad as it gets anywhere. But if China’s per capita energy consumption were to rise just to the level of Japan’s – about the most conservative in the industrial world – world emissions would go up FORTY PERCENT!

With China doing everything it can to get at remaining world oil reserves, its emissions are likely to rise beyond Japan’s. And when it runs out of oil, it will burn coal. It has the second largest coal reserves in the world after the US. The only thing on the horizon likely to limit China’s growth are the noxious affects to its own population from its economy-driving fossil fuel consumption.

Some speculate that the Chinese might commit to an emissions reductions agreement with the US. The next US president may give them that option.

China has concrete public goals for New Energy development. (click to enlarge)

China promises to promote clean energy
Joe McDonald, December 26, 2007 (AP via Yahoo News)

WHO
Chinese government

WHAT
As 2007 closed, Chyina pledged New Energy development for 2008, warned coal use would grow and rejected emissions control commitments.

WHEN
Report on 2008 plans and projections released December 26.

China is also quite dependent on coal and will be moreso. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
China is uninhibited about negotiations for oil supplies from world pariahs like Sudan and Iran. (See THE RACE FOR ENERGY IN 2008)

WHY
- Without specifics, the report promised continued restraint in the use of fossil fuels.
- It also promised to promote biomass and coalbed methane, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar and wind energies for the power generation.
- China’s use of nuclear energy has risen from 4% to 7.2% since 1980.
- In the guise of controlling pollution and taking greenhouse emissions seriously, China promised to make its coal mining efforts more efficient. This, of course, coincidently ramps up capacity.

Here's the problem. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
China Cabinet press report: "China gives top priority to developing renewable energy…China will pay more attention to the clean utilization of energy resources, especially coal, and make it a focus of environmental protection…China will step up its efforts in prospecting coal resources…"