Why China's clean energy tech will determine our climate future - New Scientist
Why China's clean energy tech will determine our climate future | New Scientist
China’s energy use makes it the world’s largest carbon emitter Tony Shi Photography/Getty Images
China’s energy use makes it the world’s largest carbon emitter
Tony Shi Photography/Getty Images
There is a question frequently repeated by sceptics of plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Western nations: what about China? This simplistic refrain asks the right question for the wrong reasons. That is because China plays a paradoxical role in the global picture of climate change. It is now by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, annually pumping out more than the combined emissions of the 38 states in the OECD group of advanced economies. It …
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: hydropower
Hydropower — electricity generated by turbines capturing energy from moving water — was for many years the primary contributor of renewable energy to the U.S. electricity grid. Its growth was rapid into the 1970s, and since then has offered a stable supply of power, while a declining share of all generation. For many years, hydropower was seen as clean energy and an unalloyed good, but a greater understanding of the impact of dams on ecosystems and wildlife has led to the removal of some dams. As of 2019, hydropower trails wind as a renewable source of power generation.