Brief, informative reports based on objective data and research from the ChinaFAQs Network of Experts. Read More
A collection of short, analytical overviews of critical climate and energy topics, supported by data and analysis from leading U.S. institutions and experts. Read More
Latest from ChinaFAQs
China’s Massive Traffic Jam Shows the Importance of its Rail Expansion
Posted by Deborah Seligsohn on Sep 1, 2010
The biggest energy-related news out of China this week has involved transport – the mega-traffic jam in Inner Mongolia, leading to Beijing. After more than ten days, extra police did manage to redirect traffic and clear the jam. While this story has played mainly as a global human interest story with many suggesting visions of futuristic nightmares, the actual causes, well outlined in Shai Oster’s Wall Street Journal blog are far more complex than just the number of vehicles on the road.
ChinaFAQs Expert Ed Steinfeld on China’s Technological Development and the West in the Wall Street Journal
Posted by Luke Schoen on Aug 23, 2010
ChinaFAQs Expert and Director of the MIT China Program Ed Steinfeld recently discussed his new book “Playing Our Game: Why China’s economic rise doesn’t threaten the West” in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: China Closes Highly Polluting Plants
Posted by Deborah Seligsohn on Aug 11, 2010
The big news this week is that China is removing outdated equipment from another 2000 plants, and they are moving quite rapidly – the equipment is to be phased out by the end of September. These closures are part of the tougher measures Premier Wen Jiabao announced in April. While some have expressed skepticism about this move, because equipment rather than whole factories are being phased out, in fact, this looks to be a positive move. While China has made significant efficiency advances by closing whole factories, there is a limit to how many such highly inefficient factories actually exist. As the very oldest, least efficient have been phased out, more sophisticated policies that pinpoint problematic equipment are needed.
China Tops U.S. in Energy Use to Become World's Top Energy Consumer
Posted by Nick Price on Jul 20, 2010
China has passed the U.S. to become the world’s biggest energy consumer, according to new data from the International Energy Agency. And while many expected China to overtake the U.S., most thought it wouldn’t be for another 5 years.
ChinaFAQs: Economic Drivers of Energy Use and Carbon Emissions in China
Posted by ChinaFAQs on Jul 12, 2010
Key Points:
- Macroeconomic forces – often unpredictable or poorly-understood – are crucial drivers of China’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Booming investment in heavy industry, mainly for domestic infrastructure development, as well as rapid growth in China’s export manufacturing sector, are the two most important factors driving China’s energy consumption.
- As China’s middle class demands more goods like air conditioners and cars, domestic private consumption could be in the future (but is not yet) a major driver of energy use and emissions.
- These economic trends are rooted in fundamental political and social factors. Reform will require concentrated attention to these considerations; fortunately, Chinese leaders have indicated that creating a more energy efficient economic structure is a high-level priority.
