Alan Short
September 17, 2010
3:45 pm
China has a goal to become more energy efficient. This goal is being hampered by their bolstering economy. China has invested heavily in infrastructure as part of their stimulus. Also, they are the world’s largest auto market. The materials needed, such as steel and cement, are energy-intensive to make. As China’s economy picks up, more Chinese will be purchasing their own vehicle as oppose to taking the train or riding the bus. Auto sales in China are expected to reach 40 million by 2020. That’s “more than twice the peak of the American market before” the economy tanked. This sets a backwards trend. Chinese officials have gone as far as “closing thousands of factories with outdated equipment.” Also, China cut their steel production. There is some speculation that China exports more green products rather than putting them to use at home. “The American-based United Steelworkers union filed a detailed petition last week with the United States government, accusing the Chinese government of providing export subsidies for clean-energy equipment in violation of the World Trade Organization’s prohibition on export subsidies.”
This is what happens when your economy is doing well. Its industrialization at its best. Not only is their economy changing but the people too. Rather than using mass transit, they are buying their own vehicle, adding fuel to the fire. Also, urbanization is taking place. More people are moving from the farm to the factory. With high concentrations of people in an area there are going to be greater energy demands. I don’t see the problem getting better any time soon even with major investments in alternative energy. As China’s economy grows they will need to hasten the use of electric cars and continue to seek ways to reduce their electric bill.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/business/energy-environment/17energy.html?_r=1&ref=energy-environment
1 comment:
I think it's funny and quite counterproductive for China's people to start buying their own cars while trying to be more energy efficient. Isn't one of our big arguments here in the US the fact that individual cars produce more pollution in the air, and that public transportation helps reduce these pollutants? While industrialization can be good for economy, it can also harm the environment. I guess it will have to be a give a little, take a little situation.
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