There is good news from China that raises great hope: for the first time, China’s CO2-equivalent emissions have stopped and decreased; China’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were 1.6% lower than the previous year for the first time, even though energy consumption in the country grew by 2.5%. China’s emissions account for about a third of all human greenhouse gas emissions; China is by far the world’s largest source of greenhouse gases. However, in China’s defense, it must be said that a large part of China’s carbon footprint is actually the result of Western countries buying huge quantities of industrial products from China. China has also invested more in renewable energy than any other country: China has built, for example, twice as much solar power as the rest of the world combined, meaning that 2/3 of the world’s solar power capacity has been built in China. China has also developed wind turbines with a wattage so high that it is enough for a small city.
Previously, emissions have only been reduced in Europe and in the USA during President Biden’s term. During Trump’s term, emissions started to rise again. Trump also decided, as a first step, that the USA would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement – for the second time. The Paris Climate Agreement is a major milestone and an institution that enables the world to wean itself off fossil fuels. In Europe, emissions have been reduced, especially through emissions trading and renewable, clean energy innovations.
The EU’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions is 7% and the US’s is 11%. And as I mentioned above, China’s is about 33%. In total, these are 51%, or more than half of global emissions. The three largest sources of emissions have therefore reduced their emissions. This is something very positive. However, the development during Trump’s term is worrying. Trump dreams of some kind of early 20th century carbon dystopia: a fossil with a rigid mindset drives the fossil economy. Trump, with his tariffs and imperialism, lives in a completely different century than the one we live in. He imagines that he will implement his MAGA and restore the “US golden era.” The truth is that Trump’s era is socially unjust and fascist and very dirty, full of coal dust and oil spills. However, Trump is not eternal. In the long run, he will not stop progress.
The carbon-free future is moving forward despite everything: the role of new technology is becoming the greatest; electrification and renewable, clean energy. I recommend Michael Barnard’s blog, he sees a clear vision of the importance of electrification. Barnard also writes about renewable energy in his blog: one interesting article tells how Denmark has calculated the service life of wind turbines to be 50 years. Goodbye nuclear power, we will not see you again!
Daniel Elkama
Michael Barnard’s blog
Ecoblogi - A Blog by Daniel Elkama 
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