David Victor Quoted in New York Times Blog
Behind China’s Shift on Energy and Growth
03/05/2011
Andrew C. Revkin,
The New York Times Blog, Dot Growth
Interpreting shifts in China’s growth and resource use has long been a challenge, to say the least. A decade ago, some energy analysts and environmental groups were quick to conclude that an apparent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from coal burning proved China was capable of avoiding the western pattern of rising emissions in a growing economy.
Subsequent analysis found that much of the decline was the result of one-time changes in energy choices (like a sharp decline in household heating with coal). Soon growth in coal burning and emissions exploded, vaulting China past the United States in total carbon dioxide emissions:
Now, as China’s National People’s Congress prepares to approve the country’s 12th five-year plan, there’s much talk of elements that will reshape and modulate economic growth and restrict energy use and pollution — including greenhouse gas emissions.
This week I sent a query to a range of analysts tracking China trends as a starting point for considering what’s going on behind the scenes. Here are my questions and the answers that have come in so far, with a bit of additional context (some e-mail shorthand has been cleaned up):
Click here to read the full article.
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David Victor is Director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation (ILAR). Looking across a wide array of issues from environment and energy to human rights, trade and security, the Laboratory explores when (and why) international laws actually work.
