According to a report from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, based on the consumption of oil, gas and coal around the world in 2006, China has overtaken the US as the country with the highest annual level of CO2 emissions. This event was expected, was even inevitable, but it has happened quicker than predicted. Most predictions spoke of 2010, not 2006.

What’s more, with China opening as many as two coal-fired power stations a week, this situation can only get worse, and very, very fast. Whilst much of the world is finally beginning to focus on reducing CO2 emissions, China’s are increasing dramatically and this is not going to stop in the near future, in spite of the announcement of their first ‘national plan on climate change’.

China argues that the carbon footprint of a chinese person is only 1/4 of that of an American or half that of a Briton, and that their progress should not be impeded just so that they can pay for the previous errors of the western world. In fact, it’s simpler than that. Progress in China is dramatic, inevitable, and crucial, at least for the Chinese, and there is no way that they are going to waste money and above all time in trying to progress in as ‘green’ a fashion as possible. China will continue growing, and so will their emissions.

So we have a problem, a huge problem. Western powers are finally mobilising to cut CO2 emissions, but it is possible that all of our efforts will merely keep us where we are by balancing our China’s ongoing increases. A huge amount of effort for nothing?

No, not at all. We can’t look at it like that. It’s certainly yet another wake up call, but it shouldn’t distract us from our own efforts to reduce our own, and the West’s CO2 emissions. These efforts will have a positive effect on the world’s health but equally on the future of power generation and on our pockets. We have to find alternative sources of energy to fossil fuels anyway, and as they already exist, are beginning to be affordable and save us money, why not use them?

Secondly we do have to find a way to persuade, help, force China to lower their emissions - this is evident. How? Well, complete speculation, but some of the options are:

  1. Diplomacy: we’re doing it already, and we will continue to do it. China is to be included in all global discussions on CO2 emissions, but it is going to be difficult to make them change their line, at least for now. Long-term, slow solution.
  2. Economic pressure: this has more potential, although it will certainly be difficult. Part of the problem is how important cheap products from China are today to the whole of the world’s economy. Stopping using them will have a pretty major effect.
  3. Threats: we’re not there yet, and let’s hope we never get there. Not a solution to be considered.

For me this piece of news is not that much of a surprise. It’s just yet another kick up the ##s to remind me why those of us who can should continue to reduce our emissions as much as we can.