Latest comments posted about Fuelling the future (part two) on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/636-Fuelling-the-future-part-two- http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/636-Fuelling-the-future-part-two- From the position of a commoner, I would support and agree with the feasibility of multi-generation technology. However, in light of present realities, I would like to express my reservations. Perhaps some individuals of the upper classes support the positive effects of the central government’s guidance. But what China is lacking, is the power to implement these guidances with the broader masses. Doing so would bring up a lot of problems, even in terms of China’s government evaluating system – the GDP. According to the local magistrates, GDP is helping officials to gain promotions. And as long as the economy carries on its ascent, many problems are allowed to be ignored. This ingrained top to bottom way of thinking is one source of the many problems within Chinese society. For example, the social divisions, social inequity, injustice, and corruption that accompanies economic development. To rely on technology alone to radically transform the present environmental and developmental situation, would be both impossible and inappropriate. If these far-sighted plans were actualised, in combination to a top down approach to make every person value environmental protection and support sustainable development; that would bring us to a point close to achieving sustainable development. Sometimes it is not the case that one simply does not care about the environment. But others do not seek to protect the environment, and standing against the grain, one would suffer losses compared to others. To make such an advanced idea more than merely a political buzzword, or simply a point for media focus, one ought to initiate a transformation of mentality, affecting every single person’s life. Only then it would bring about a truly achievable solution. Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:00:30 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/636#comment-865 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/636#comment-865 Weidou Ni talks about technological possibilities for "clean coal power" but a close reading reveals that it will take 3 to 5 years to get a large scale pilot and by 2020 a "significant" number will be in use. Yet he acknowledges that a rush to install sulfur removing technologies did not go well. Why should we believe that "clean coal technologies" will go well. China plans to build 500 power stations in the next few years. How many will be "clean coal". No where in the world is clean coal associated with carbon capture and seqestration actually up and running commercially - everyone knows that it will be very complicated and expensive. If clean coal is become costs effective it will have to compete against existing power plants. Yet, according to the Research Centre for Sustainable Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a paper they wrote for the UK Stern Review: "Artificially kept low price and energy subsidies protect large state-owned and inefficient technologies from competition with advanced ones." A political power block is built up around coal power and my reading is that many local political and economic bosses refuse to spend on new technologies and the result is not only a threat to global climate but an appalling threat to the health of Chinese citizens now. For example I read in the UK media that Chinese media have reported a revolt among the citizens of Shanxi who are choking in the smoke. More than 90% of people surveyed by the provincial bureau for environmental protection said economic growth cannot go on at such an appalling cost. The same survey, reported by the China Youth Daily, found that 90% of mayors and local cadres opposed any moves to protect the environment that might slow the economy. Apparently one mine boss in Shanxi named Zhang owns three Rolls-Royces of different colours plus a fleet of other luxury cars for his extended family, according to the Chongqing Morning Post, a daily newspaper. "While normal people die of polluted air and water, officials use mineral water to wash their vegetables and even their feet," said Yue Jianguo, an analyst, commenting on the Shanxi survey. Meanwhile, whatever we do in the UK and the rest of the world to try to deal with climate change is in danger of becoming totally irrelevant. Perhaps its worth remembering that Karl Marx died of a lung complaint which was probably in part caused by London's appalling air pollution- and had to flee the London fogs shortly before he died. It's a pity he didn't put his mind to the driver of the industrial revolution and today's crisis - coal. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:53:56 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/636#comment-857 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/636#comment-857