Speaking at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change climate change summit in Spain, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres claimed on Monday that “the point of no return is no longer over the horizon.”
Let’s say that’s true.
Then why on Earth are climate change activists so happy for China to keep belching out vast amounts of new carbon dioxide?
China is already the world’s carbon-emitting leader, emitting nearly twice the levels of America in second place, and it is building up its lead. And in 2019, China’s only significant climate change accomplishment was its slaughter of 100 million methane-producing pigs. But of course, that wasn’t about climate change; it was about restraining a swine flu outbreak.
And things are set to get worse as China opens dozens of new coal-fired power plants. China’s carbon output is heading even higher in 2020, even as America’s is projected to decline. This speaks to something: Chinese President Xi Jinping is lying when he says he takes climate change seriously. His dirty coal plants and opposition to European carbon tariffs, evidence Xi’s global economic and political ambitions come first.
The COP25 community doesn’t seem to care. Instead, this week’s summit has opened with a range of thinly veiled jabs at the United States. This, even though America is leading the world in reducing its carbon emissions.
Why the choice to attack America and ignore China? Because most nations prefer pomp to practicality on this issue. They know they can attack America but keep trading with America. But it’s not so simple when it comes to China. These nations know that China views trade through the distinct prism of Xi’s mercantilist worldview. And led by President Emmanuel Macron of France, the European Union is keen to keep Beijing happy in order to maintain Chinese investment and trade deals. The contrast here between European leaders’ rhetoric and activists’ demands is striking.
But it doesn’t change the exigent truth. Until COP25 puts China front and center in its carbon reduction sights, these summits will continue to produce nothing but hot air.
