<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/07/china-fossil-fuel-us-climate-environment-energy>
"Chinese power took on an old-fashioned hue in the past week with a huge
military parade, a gathering of former allies Russia and North Korea, and
President Xi Jinping’s defiant vow not to be intimidated by bullies.
That display reminded many of the cold war, but it captured only a fraction of
China’s far greater modern influence, primarily built on a formidable economy,
dramatic advancements in renewable energy, and a willingness to engage globally
with the greatest crisis facing humanity: climate breakdown.
In that sense, the tanks, cannon and missiles that filed past Tiananmen Square
may well prove less important in reshaping the world order than the wind
turbines, solar panels and electric cars that are churning out of Chinese
factories on to fields and roads all over the planet. They are the reason China
has already won the battle for the energy of the 21st century.
If history is any guide, the country that dominates energy usually dominates
economics and politics, which is why it is not just old war allies that are
cosying up to Beijing. Narendra Modi, the president of longtime rival India,
also visited China last week for the biggest ever meeting of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation along with dozens of other regional leaders. The
European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, led a delegation to
Beijing this summer to coordinate climate policy. The Brazilian executive
secretary of Cop30 will visit next week with a similar mission, knowing the
success or failure of the annual climate summit now depends on China more than
any other nation.
Expectations for Chinese climate leadership are rising in tandem with dismay at
the US, which will attend Cop30 as an observer and disrupter that, under Donald
Trump, appears to be trying to lurch backwards towards a 20th century comfort
zone of oil, gas and coal.
The contrast could become even more striking once China confirms it has reached
a positive tipping point after which it will irreversibly shift away from
fossil fuels. Last year, the world’s biggest carbon emitter registered a very
slight decline in greenhouse gas output. Many analysts believe this means the
country’s carbon use will peak this year or very soon. If that is confirmed, it
would be a moment of considerably greater significance than Donald Trump’s
decision to withdraw from UN climate negotiations."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
