According to one US think-tank, Chinese factories and power plants will emit more carbon dioxide than that released by US counterparts come 2017. The Center for Global Development, a non-governmental organization that works to reduce global poverty, suggests that China's economic growth may be the culprit behind the rapid rise in carbon dioxide emission. The organization studies more than 50,000 power plants and 4,000 power companies in every country.
David Wheeler, a former World Bank economist now working with the Center for Global Development, said that American and Chinese greenhouse gas emissions are currently at par and after just 10 years, China will "overwhelmingly" dominate the US. Note that the largest carbon dioxide pollutor in the US is Southern Co., whose power plants release 172 million tonnes of the principal greenhouse gas annually, compared to China's Huaneng Power International, which accounts for 292 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Another researcher said that emissions in the US are high due to exuberant living standards, but also due to a difference in energy policies. As I've mentioned in previous posts, China is taking various quota and tax measures in curbing greenhouse gases. Do you think there would be a chance that the Chinese government stress anti-pollution over economic growth within the next 10 years?
Comment Preview