Hey, big spender: China has trebled energy consumption since 1978
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published an energy fact sheet about China that has some interesting highlights. First of all, China is the world's third-largest energy producer, but it's also the second-largest consumer. This is important because demand will continue to increase and will be reflected in energy prices and, surely, the price we pay for gas at the pump.
Nevertheless, 69 percent of China's energy needs come from coal and 71 percent of energy in China is used for industrial production. One interesting fact comes from the average and total CO2 levels in China. While the country is the world's second-largest CO2 producer, because of the country's large population, the average Chinese citizen only produces 3.88 tons of CO2 per year, below the global average.
The good news, relatively speaking, is that the Chinese government seems to be concerned about these figures. One new law in development should promote energy conservation and avoid waste to help the country become more energy-efficient and lower pollution emissions. Cleaner vehicles will play an important role in this shift.
Related
- In spite of pollution, hybrids struggle to gain a foothold in China
- Pointing at the most polluting companies, the Chinese way
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
UH2L 5:09PM (2/24/2008)
Their people probably still use much less energy per capita for personal use than we do. As for industry, they should have better pollution controls, but I'm guessing that a large portion of that 71% of energy used for industrial production is consumed by us in the U.S. They make money off of us, but we let them breathe the dirty air. A lack of mandatory emissions controls is what allows them to produce goods more cheaply. In addition to the production, the transport of the goods causes pollution. These are more reasons to buy local to benefit the environment of the planet.
Atul
http://www.thingsivenoticed.com
Reply
Dad 5:37PM (2/24/2008)
"The good news, relatively speaking, is that the Chinese government seems to be concerned about these figures"
Boy, do I feel warm and fuzzy. Brutal form of government, that tramples over the rights of their citizens daily and they are "concerned". Kind of makes anything they do just good all over. I guess everything is "relative"?
Reply
Wise Golden 6:26PM (2/24/2008)
I'm not really sure that I can see the good news that you are pointing to in the Governments desire to curb waste and improve conservation. I agree that these are goals that would aply well to the US where conservation would be practical and waste is plentiful, but in China, waste is unheard of, and conservation is already a forced practiced.
China needs to stop making nice talk and start doing some of the things that will actually count, like installing scrubbers in their power plants and steel mills. Outlawing coal heated homes. That would cost a fourtune and I don't look for it any time soon.
I don't know if China is #2 in CO2 -- I had heard that they passed the EU last year to take #1, but I was pleasee that the US fell from #1 to #3 although part of the reason has as much to do with the fact that the other two big producers, China and EU both rose while we fell slightly.
As I look at the picture, I clearly understand that China does not find this to be a problem at the moment -- who could live in that haze and not be forcing industry to shut down -- unless they don't care.
UH2L -- I see your point, but I can tell you that about 10% of the Chinese GNP is exported to the US, and that would mean that our consumption accounts for a tenth of the pollution in China. I'm sure that's a smaller number than you imagine.
Now, as for us letting them breath dirty air -- that's going a little overboard. They live as they see fit. We made a decision 4 decades ago to clean our environment and we've done a good job, and we have paid dearly to do it, but I'm glad we did. China has not yet made that decision, a point which is made clear by their desire to "reduce waste" as a means of pollution control.
Dad says it well - they trample on their citizens.
Reply
Chris M 7:03PM (2/24/2008)
Typical of a communist monopoly, the government won't force cleanup of business as they own the business. At least, not until the pollution starts to bother the top party officials.
Reply
Tormod Henne 7:49AM (2/25/2008)
"69 percent of China's energy needs come from coal and 71 percent of energy in China is used for industrial production". So consequently, we should shop less.. Check out this very interesting video. 20 min but worth it!
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Reply
hm.. 11:15AM (2/25/2008)
ah, no american has the right to say anything to the chinese when WE use 7 times more per capita per citizen. It would only be hyprocritical. Who do you think the number one consumer is? US!
Reply
Derek 12:10PM (2/25/2008)
Wow, look at that lovely air... uh, can we still call that air?
Reply
Wise Golden 2:09PM (2/25/2008)
#6 -- Sure we have a right to ask them to reduce pollution -- especially when it's traveling into our country. We may use more than they do, but we go to great lengths to do all of the things that technology allows to reduce pollution. My point is that they are not really trying and they don't know what they are heading for as their consumption increases. And here's the kicker -- we had to invent the technology at great cost -- all they have to do is use the technology.
Reply
Wildgoosechase73 7:18PM (2/25/2008)
Something to ponder about before we buy the Chinese made cars getting ready to hit our shores this year.
Reply
jamesFF 11:53PM (2/25/2008)
CO2 will not turn your air black. There is far worst pollution in China's air that should be taken care of than CO2.
Reply
Wise Golden 12:20PM (2/26/2008)
#10 -- good point. CO2 is the least that they have to worry about in that brown haze. It's most likely a toxic mixture of lead, mercury and every heavy metal known to man.
They have a real problem on their hands.
Reply