China Is the Climate-Change Battleground

[Petar + 76]

China now releases almost as much carbon dioxide as the U. S. and Europe combined. The true imbalance is much larger than it appears on this graph. Developed countries grow slowly -- perhaps around 2 percent a year. China, because it’s still catching up, grows much faster, at around 6.5 percent. That rapid growth is why China’s emissions have soared since 2007, even as the U.S. and Europe have made modest progress. As China continues to catch up, its already enormous share of global emissions will only grow, unless it takes dramatic steps to decarbonize its economy. To its credit, China has made moves to limit coal use. But the country’s emissions continue to rise.

[50 shades of black + 254]

New power from solar and wind is likely to be cheaper than from any other source by 2030 and electric vehicles cheaper to own and operate than internal combustion engines by 2025. So it seems that after 2030, the global economy should be pretty rapidly reducing its greenhouse emissions (all while the cost of energy is falling, as is the cost of transporting goods and people). Then tack on the fact that we already have technology that can suck C02 out of the air (and probably methane as well, given it is just another hydrocarbon), and that those technologies will see advancements over the years as well, and things just don't look so dire

[Pavel + 384]

China and India won't cut their emissions below the US and Europe's per capita levels. It's not "they'll follow our moral leadership"; it's a condition sine-qua-non.

[damirUSBiH + 327]

It's a global problem that requires a global solution by every UN member. If we don't address the problem soon, it will be too late. The people have to lead on this and create a burning platform -- The Global War on Climate Change!

[rainman + 263]

8 minutes ago, 50 shades of black said:

New power from solar and wind is likely to be cheaper than from any other source by 2030 and electric vehicles cheaper to own and operate than internal combustion engines by 2025. So it seems that after 2030, the global economy should be pretty rapidly reducing its greenhouse emissions (all while the cost of energy is falling, as is the cost of transporting goods and people). Then tack on the fact that we already have technology that can suck C02 out of the air (and probably methane as well, given it is just another hydrocarbon), and that those technologies will see advancements over the years as well, and things just don't look so dire

We have technology now -- solar power, for instance -- that could be deployed to help cut emissions in businesses, homes and on the road in cars.  We currently lack the political resolve on the part of our leaders.

[ThunderBlade + 231]

China is responsible for over roughly 1/4 of the total fossil fuel CO2 emissions. Also, according to the Environmental Performance Index, the top six worst countries in climate effects and energy use are African countries. 

[Donald Gill + 2]

I hope  BI is right but as Yogi said, "Predictions are difficult, especially when you are talking about the future".