Why China Isn't the Problem
Heyyo! Hope this email finds you well. This month I tackled China’s emissions record. I wanted to figure out whether China was actually the bogeyman of climate change that many in the U.S. believe it to be. Below you can find the video that (hopefully) answers that question, along with three quotes and three links I found useful along the way. Enjoy!
Three Quotes:
“China is the second-largest emitter of carbon emissions as of 2019, it has emitted 220 billion metric tons of CO2 since 1750 — just over half as much as the US, which released 410 billion metric tons.”
— D.W.
“[China] spent $546 billion in 2022 on investments that included solar and wind energy, electric vehicles and batteries. That is nearly four times the amount of U.S. investments, which totaled $141 billion. The European Union was second to China with $180 billion in clean energy investments.”
— Scientific American
“China, the USA and the 28 countries of the EU account for more than half of global emissions. Without commitment from these largest emitters, the world will not come close to meeting its global targets.”
— Our World in Data
Three Links:
Explainer: Why China’s provinces are so important for action on climate change (Carbon Brief)
China Carbon Neutrality Action Database (Carbon Neutrality Tracker)
Hope you have a wonderful weekend,
Charlie