When it comes to climate change, no country has caused more international hand-wringing than China. The U.S. may be the bad guy for not ratifying Kyoto, but they did so because China and India weren't involved. China's expanding economy is responsible for the huge rise in oil prices. China is eating more meat, causing a global food crisis. China is opening two new coal-fired power stations every week. And so on - we all know how it goes. The U.S. might just come around once Bush is out of the picture, but China's run away growth and titanic ambition promise nothing but further despair for the environment.
At least, that's how the story is generally told. That makes it all the more surprising that a recent report (pdf) named China as the world's leading producer of renewable energy. With 152 Gigawatts generated through renewable energy sources in 2007, China would lead the world in installed green electricity.
It's not just power either. According to the Climate Group, China is "over-taking more developed countries in exploiting valuable economic opportunities, creating green-collar jobs and leading development of critical low carbon technologies." The country is second only to Japan in the manufacture of photo-voltaic solar technology. One solar company, Suntech, is growing by 100% every year, making a solar billionaire out of founder Shi Zhengrong. By 2009 it will be the world leader in wind turbines, too. All of this is the result of serious investment. As a percentage of GDP, Chinese investment in renewables is ‘almost level' with Germany, considered the world leader. $12 billion was spent in 2007, and this will rise to $33 billion a year by 2020. "China is beginning to pull its weight on climate change," says the China Director of The Climate Group, Changhua Wu. "The targets and policies in place are in line with those being taken by ‘leading' countries like the UK and Germany."
This is good news of course, and it's absolutely necessary. Firstly, it's necessary because China has now overtaken the U.S. as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, its giant population generating just shy of a quarter of total global emissions. It must take responsibility for its emissions, and it appears to be, in its own way.
Secondly, it is important because for a long time China has been an excuse for inaction by other countries. As with the U.S. in Kyoto, China's absence at the table has been reason enough to dismiss much of the international community's efforts to build consensus on climate change. According to Steve Howard, Chief Executive of the Climate Group: "many governments, businesses and individuals have been wary of committing to action on climate change because they perceive that China - the world's largest emitter - is doing little to address the issue. However, the reality is that China's government is beginning to unleash a low-carbon dragon which will power its future growth, development and energy security objectives."
We're not out of the woods yet. China has a long way to go on the long walk to sustainability, and the consequences of failure in their case are much more severe than many others. But they're not lagging behind. Perhaps it's time we started paying more attention to China.
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