Green Lights for Red China
Following the 1973 decision by OAPEC to enact an oil embargo on the United States and the subsequent energy crisis, reliance on foreign oil supplies transformed into a significant national security issue. Investment in renewable energy sources was thus transformed from the pie-in-the-sky pipe dreams of tree-huggers everywhere, to a politically respectable scientific endeavor compatible with nationalistic ideals. Similarly, official discourse within the People’s Republic of China names the desire for ‘energy security’ among their reasons for pursuing such ambitious renewable-energy-related goals. In their 12th five year plan (2011-2015), China has announced that, it aims to generate 11.4% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources, cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 17%, and will expend 2.2% of their GDP on Research and Development across all sectors (Xinhua). With a GDP growth rate of 10.3% in 2010, China topped 6 trillion US dollars (Asia News), making their commitment to R & D no small pledge. But, is this politically-trendy stance just window dressing for foreign audiences, and if China is financially committed to developing and producing clean energy, do they have the political framework in place to ensure that the development of clean energy itself will not hurt the environment?
