Show threadAdlachNov 6, 2023
It really is uplifting to see a government meet (and so hugely surpass) their climate goals. Living in America, you’d think it was impossible from the way businesses/politicians talk.
Show threadOoops

That's only uplifting when you ignore the fact that China also approved more than 50GW in new coal power plants in just the first half of 2023...

In the end the two biggest economies in the world massively fail. One because it's controlled by fossil fuel lobbyists and the other because it doesn't give a shit and just builds up every available energy production.

Nov 6, 2023 at 4:45amWeb
Show threadqueermunist she/herNov 6, 2023

China at least has the excuse of being so incredibly huge that they actually need an “all of the above” strategy to meet energy requirements.

We’re over here burning coal for little to no reason. We could replace those plants whenever we want. We just don’t, because coal lobby.

Show threadDeceptichumNov 7, 2023
Electricity is cheap as shit in China, there is a lot of “need” that is not necessary
Show threadqueermunist she/herNov 7, 2023
Electricity should be affordable.
Show threadDeceptichumNov 7, 2023
And waste should be eliminated.
Show threadqueermunist she/herNov 7, 2023
And on a per capita basis, China consumes less than half what Americans consume. Sure looks like they’re reducing waste.
Show threadstellaNov 6, 2023

You described the US in both scenarios.

What makes you think Americans will forego cheap energy if China and Russia aren’t?

Show threadOoopsNov 6, 2023
What makes you think that renewable energy isn't the cheapest energy right now?
Show threadAdlachNov 6, 2023
Three times as much solar being built as coal is still pretty decent, especially for a developing economy.
Show threadZeroEcksNov 6, 2023
It’s China even still a developing country really
Show threadPiliNov 6, 2023
The costal part is pretty much developed, but the rest of the country is still industrialising.
Show threadzerfuffleNov 6, 2023

Last I checked, China’s been developing every energy source known to man (except O&G, because they don’t have a domestic supply of O&G except in the contested waters of the SCS)…

China is the world leader in new nuclear development, new hydro development, solar panel manufacturing, wind turbine manufacturing, solar panel deployment, wind turbine deployment, electric vehicles, and carbon capture+storage.

Maybe if other economies would help pick up the slack? China’s been firing on all cylinders towards green tech for decades, but it turns out that urbanizing and industrializing 1 billion people to a Western standard of living is really fucking energy-intensive. Meanwhile, everyone else is just sitting on their ass and watching.