Hmm you may be right about China’s motives and a possible uneasy alliance between the 3. I would like to think that China thinks in long term consequences instead of short term gain that USA tends to display. However, we may never know what the true relationship there is.
As for the China’s reliance on coal; we must not forget this country is trying to provide an additional 1.4 billion people a middle class lifestyle. Who are we to deny them the material conditions many in the west enjoy? From what I understand coal is China’s response to the failings of renewable/sustainable energy. Coal is still only 1% of Chinese energy grid(corrected by Doomsider below), they just need so much power and coal can be mined domestically. Unfortunately, modern human life may not be compatible with a healthy planet?
I am far more hopeful of China than I am of the US. I would like to agree with you that China is engaging in long term thinking only because it is a counter balance to the epic short-sightedness that the US displays.
You bring up a good point of China’s population and the concept of them increasing the quality of life of so many people. It does make you wonder about the sustainability of large human populations.
I think you got your numbers crossed as it was a 1% reduction of coal usage not coal only making up 1% of their power grid. That would be extremely impressive. Here is an article that talks about their actual percentage of coal usage for power.
I have found several conflicting articles on this and this one is the most generous for China. It sets total energy produced by coal at just barely less than 50%. Coal is expected to continue to increase until 2030 according to Chinese planners although the total percentage may shrink if it continues to be outpaced by solar/wind/hydro.
Hmm you may be right about China’s motives and a possible uneasy alliance between the 3. I would like to think that China thinks in long term consequences instead of short term gain that USA tends to display. However, we may never know what the true relationship there is.
As for the China’s reliance on coal; we must not forget this country is trying to provide an additional 1.4 billion people a middle class lifestyle. Who are we to deny them the material conditions many in the west enjoy? From what I understand coal is China’s response to the failings of renewable/sustainable energy.
Coal is still only 1% of Chinese energy grid(corrected by Doomsider below), they just need so much power and coal can be mined domestically. Unfortunately, modern human life may not be compatible with a healthy planet?https://apnews.com/article/china-coal-solar-climate-carbon-emissions-242abe76eb69f5a362e977de74ff3254
I am far more hopeful of China than I am of the US. I would like to agree with you that China is engaging in long term thinking only because it is a counter balance to the epic short-sightedness that the US displays.
You bring up a good point of China’s population and the concept of them increasing the quality of life of so many people. It does make you wonder about the sustainability of large human populations.
I think you got your numbers crossed as it was a 1% reduction of coal usage not coal only making up 1% of their power grid. That would be extremely impressive. Here is an article that talks about their actual percentage of coal usage for power.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/china-generates-less-than-half-its-electricity-coal-first-time-2026-07-30/
I have found several conflicting articles on this and this one is the most generous for China. It sets total energy produced by coal at just barely less than 50%. Coal is expected to continue to increase until 2030 according to Chinese planners although the total percentage may shrink if it continues to be outpaced by solar/wind/hydro.
Whoops that was a dumb mistake by me. Thanks for the correction and the discussion!