[Approx. Read Time: 2 minutes] A recent article written by Keith Bradsher, states “China, which by most estimates overtook the United States in 2006 to become the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is seeking sharp improvements in the energy efficiency of its economy.”
China is taking action to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they emit by building new nuclear reactors – as many as 10 a year – to meet the country’s growing electricity demand.
China’s economy has grown significantly in the last 10 years, and is continuing to grow significantly. They are investing in numerous energy sources to help create and sustain their economies; building nuclear power plants is one energy source that will help their economy, and as a result, China is reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Please reread the first four words of the second paragraph “China is taking action”. I applaud the Chinese for taking initiative in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases they emit, without waiting for an agreement from Copenhagen. Unlike the United States, who is waiting for an arbitrary panel of individuals in Copenhagen to determine what nations “should do”, China is already taking action.
We (United States) have politicians, environmental activists, scientists, etc., all making a case for why or why not we should invest in nuclear power as an energy source. While the Chinese are taking action, the United States is once again arguing over who is right and who is wrong, delaying the process of investing in new nuclear reactors to meet our energy needs and sustain our economy.
This country and our politicians think like a teenage girl who has a crush on a teenage boy. But what if I do this, And this will happen or If I do that. We need politicians who will get over their Ifs, Ands, and Buts hang-ups and make decisions about how we will sustain our economy while still providing enough energy for Americans to live comfortably. We at CEI are in the process of coordinating a Letter Writing Campaign to mobilize the politicians of this country to ACT. Stay posted.
If you need to recruit some assistance with your campaign let me know. I agree wholeheartedly with this post. The Chinese are set to build 100+ reactors in the next 2 decades. Basically this is the same plan that Senator Alexander is advocating. I’m not so sure the teenage girl analogy works all the way for me, but we definitely have a case of “analysis paralysis”. It’s sad to see that America seems to have lost that can-do spirit.
Great post, but do you really think China’s #1 priority is lowering carbon emissions? Embracing nuclear energy in China is probably more of a practical recognition that nuclear power can supply the energy needed to support China’s development in a way that coal, much less wind and solar, cannot.
It’s just a big added bonus for the Chinese people that nuclear plants don’t chug out pollution like all their coal plants do.