Yes.

Worth looking at this piece:

‘China’s the Engine’ Driving Nations Away From Fossil Fuels, Report Says

I gifted as a free article for anyone wanting to understand just how significant China’s actions are.

When the world’s fossil fuel use will peak also comes down to the pace of that change in China itself.

China still burns more coal than the rest of the world combined and emits more climate pollution than the United States and Europe together. The country has not yet seen a decline in coal usage overall, though its total greenhouse gas emissions have reached what looks like a plateau.

But last year, China met 84 percent of its electricity demand growth with solar and wind power, according to the report. That meant it was able to cut fossil fuel use by 2 percent, despite a growing demand for power.

Mr. Black said that decline in fossil fuel use was largely due to burning less coal to produce electricity. He pointed to a number of recent policy directives that have reallocated subsidies and production incentives away from coal and toward solar and wind.

China is still building dozens of new coal-burning power plants, he said, but instead of running constantly like many existing ones, they might be at full capacity only during peaks in energy demand. Meanwhile, the contribution of wind and solar to the grid was quickly growing, he said.

“Coal is increasingly acting like training wheels,” said Yuan Jiahai, a professor at North China Electric Power University. “It provides balance and backup while the clean electricity system gains strength and confidence.”

:up:

“China is the engine,” said Richard Black, the report’s editor. “And it is changing the energy landscape not just domestically but in countries across the world.”

If Beijing is trying to wrest the future of energy from anyone, it would be the United States, the world’s biggest oil and gas producer and exporter. The Trump administration has eliminated almost all federal support for renewable energies and has pressured countries to purchase American fossil fuels as part of trade deals.

The falling cost of renewable energy, though, means that many countries, particularly poorer ones, have a strong incentive to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Mikie's link above.

Oh, the US is the biggest oil and gas producer? Let's look at coal instead. Why do we still have to waste time on this nonsense. We have to phase out all the fossil fuels, and the sooner we do it the less disruptive and catastrophic it will be.

And adaptation is what we also have to do anyway, and the slower we are at stopping making it worse by stopping burning fossil fuels, the more stringent our adaptation will have to be. And none of this is remotely controversial.

Oh, the US is the biggest oil and gas producer? Let's look at coal instead. Why do we still have to waste time on this nonsense. We have to phase out all the fossil fuels, and the sooner we do it the less disruptive and catastrophic it will be.

And adaptation is what we also have to do anyway, and the slower we are at stopping making it worse by stopping burning fossil fuels, the more stringent our adaptation will have to be. And none of this is remotely controversial. — unenlightened

How many people actually want mankind to survive?
How many people actually want all the currently living people to die of natural causes?
Is mere survival even a universally desirable goal? Does everyone want it?
How many people are even willing to survive even if that meant a significant lowering of their quality of life?


Efforts to combat climate deterioration are doomed as long as people in general would rather die than merely survive.

That meant it was able to cut fossil fuel use by 2 percent, despite a growing demand for power.

Is this supposed to be encouraging? Catastrophic warming is already baked in. By the time China makes a meaningful reduction in fossil fuel use (say half), we'll be well into uncharted territory, and they'll still be pouring GHG's into the air.

Is mere survival even a universally desirable goal? Does everyone want it? — baker

Mere? I'm not going to speak for everyone, or most people, or universality. Are you merely asking questions, or are you seriously asking them?

I don't know what to make of this. There are people who at least behave as if they would rather die than live without their car. But for thousands of years, everyone managed without a car. Does that answer anything?

Is this supposed to be encouraging? Catastrophic warming is already baked in. By the time China makes a meaningful reduction in fossil fuel use (say half), we'll be well into uncharted territory, and they'll still be pouring GHG's into the air. — RogueAI

And coal is concerning because when all the other sources are tapped out, coal availability will continue for a few more centuries. The magnitude of climate change is primarily down to what we do with coal. I don't get why China is accelerating coal use now. They could go nuclear instead.

The issue I see is that even if the west were to get its act together and transition off of fossil fuel, China will be off doing their own thing. I'm not saying that couldn't change, it's just hard to picture how.

These and further related questions tend to be taboo when it comes to discussing climate change deterioration and how to counteract it. Climate activists are often displeased with people's aparent indolence, or they criticize people for not trusting science. It seems that for many climate activists, it should be taken for granted that climate change deterioration is something that should be combatted, not merely accepted as yet another fact of life over which we have no control.

I think that for successfully taking action against climate deterioration, the above questions, and then some, would need to be openly discussed.

By the time China makes a meaningful reduction in fossil fuel use (say half), we'll be well into uncharted territory, and they'll still be pouring GHG's into the air. — RogueAI

Why blame China?

Why buy cheap Chinese stuff?

Stop buying cheap Chinese stuff, and China will have no reason to burn so much coal anymore, or even none at all, for that matter.

It's not the Chinese who need to change; it's the rest of the world, esp. Westerners, who are eager to look wealthier than they are and so they buy cheap Chinese stuff.

Is this supposed to be encouraging? — RogueAI

Yes. Remember, that’s with rapidly increasing demand. The fact that it decreased at all is significant, and the impact it’s having elsewhere is likewise significant. I think the article outlines China’s influence on the rest of the world pretty well.

Catastrophic warming is already baked in. — RogueAI

True, but every tenth of a degree matters.

The issue I see is that even if the west were to get its act together and transition off of fossil fuel, China will be off doing their own thing. — frank

Actually, China is in many ways leading the way. Which you would know if you bothered to read anything. But please go on with your outdated slogans.

I don't get why China is accelerating coal use now. They could go nuclear instead. — frank

They are. They’re building more reactors than the rest of the world combined. Which you would know if you bothered to read anything.

How China Raced Ahead of the US on Nuclear Power

I think that for successfully taking action against climate deterioration, the above questions, and then some, would need to be openly discussed. — baker

This level of naval-gazing approaches satire.

“Before we turn on the air conditioner, certain fundamental questions must be addressed— like whether we all really want to not be sweltering, and if we want to even go on living.”

Good thing you’re not in charge of anything.

Why blame China? — baker

I don't blame them. In many respects they're still a developing country. Developing countries use fossil fuels. They're cheap, easy, and reliable. If I lived in a developing country and the choice was between a wind farm that would provide power to my neighbor and a coal plant that would provide power to my neighbor and me, I know which one I would be telling my government to build.

Why buy cheap Chinese stuff? Stop buying cheap Chinese stuff, and China will have no reason to burn so much coal anymore, or even none at all, for that matter. — baker

People should definitely cut down on all the crap they buy.

It's not the Chinese who need to change; it's the rest of the world, esp. Westerners, who are eager to look wealthier than they are and so they buy cheap Chinese stuff. — baker

The rich countries should be helping the poorer ones electrify responsibly with renewables, but the rich countries (e.g., America) can't even fund food assistance programs for their own people.

This level of naval-gazing approaches satire.

“Before we turn on the air conditioner, certain fundamental questions must be addressed— like whether we all really want to not be sweltering, and if we want to even go on living.”

Good thing you’re not in charge of anything. — Mikie

And you wonder why people aren't eager to combat the deterioration of climate!

This is supposedly a philosophy forum ... not Twitter ... ...

The rich countries should be helping the poorer ones electrify responsibly with renewables, but the rich countries (e.g., America) can't even fund food assistance programs for their own people. — RogueAI

Such is capitalist paradise.

And you wonder why people aren't eager to combat the deterioration of climate! — baker

Yes, it must be because of unfriendly responses to silly comments on an online forum. Nailed it.

This is supposedly a philosophy forum — baker

And there’s all kinds of threads to naval gaze on. This one happens to be about climate change and its consequences. But I personally don’t care if you raise these questions — it’s just that it’s laughable in its childishness.

I just posted an article on China— care to discuss that? Or is that too hard?

The rich countries should be helping the poorer ones electrify responsibly with renewables, but the rich countries (e.g., America) can't even fund food assistance programs for their own people. — RogueAI

No. They can, of course they can, but they don't want to. The US crisis is deliberately created with malice aforethought. Disaster economics are being used to accumulate wealth in a few hands and the mass of the population is being deliberately impoverished, disempowered, and angered, because they are no longer needed by the rich and powerful. The economy used to run on mass production and mass consumption, but automation and 3d printing makes the mass of people unnecessary. The psychopaths no longer rely on the rest of us for their power. The plan is to get rid of most of the people, and sort out the climate later.

The last mass-production factories will be producing autonomous hunter-killer drones.

care to discuss that? Or is that too hard? — Mikie

You just answered some of my above questions.

You just answered some of my above questions. — baker

Oh? Please elaborate. Which one?

How many people actually want mankind to survive?
How many people actually want all the currently living people to die of natural causes?
Is mere survival even a universally desirable goal? Does everyone want it?
How many people are even willing to survive even if that meant a significant lowering of their quality of life? — baker

So what answer did I provide to those questions in my asking about discussing China’s role in tackling climate change? Like the fact that they’re building as many nuclear reactors as the rest of the world combined, and now sell half of all cars as EVs?

I can’t wait for your usual on-topic, detailed reasoning. Because there’s no way you just wanted to bring the discussion into the realm of naval-gazing bullshit so as to have some shot at participation, knowing next to nothing about the topic as you do, and being unwilling to read or learn and all. I know it couldn’t be that, given your sterling reputation.

discussing China’s role in tackling climate change — Mikie

Despite being the biggest emitter today, however, China’s 11% share of cumulative emissions since the industrial revolution is much smaller than that of the US (20%), which has a population of one quarter the size of China.
China also ranks lower than many other major economies when it comes to per-capita emissions. In 2019, its per-capita emissions were slightly higher than the global average, but similar to Germany’s, about half those of the US and one-third those of Australia’s.

https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-china/index.html

The CO2 output of the nation’s power sector – its dominant source of emissions – fell by 3% in the first half of the year, as growth in solar power alone matched the rise in electricity demand.

The new analysis for Carbon Brief shows that record solar capacity additions are putting China’s CO2 emissions on track to fall across 2025 as a whole.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-record-solar-growth-keeps-chinas-co2-falling-in-first-half-of-2025/

What's to discuss? Only the bullshit excuses of the Greedy and Wilfully Ignorant.

Fair enough — but it’s really quite something. China’s actions are having global effects. EVs, Solar, wind, nuclear— being rolled out at incredible speed and being exported to other countries while bringing down costs. Renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels. That’s remarkable.

With the dopey US abdicating, China will now pull way ahead. Biden’s inflation reduction act wasn’t going to get us ahead, but now with that repealed there’s no chance of catching them. This has consequences beyond climate change — it has enormous political consequences too. When they say China is the engine, they’re right.

This is interesting as well (apropos of the above):

Jamaicans Have Been Turning to Solar Power. It Paid Off After the Storm (gift article)

Solar panels remain beyond the reach of many Jamaicans, but prices are falling rapidly as Chinese gear floods into the market. In recent years the Jamaican government has also started providing a solar income-tax credit, and banks have begun to offer more financing. Jamaica’s electric utility also now compensates solar households for excess electricity they put back into the grid.

That’s helping Jamaica make progress toward its goal of generating 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

A natural progression. China exporting cheap solar panels to an island that wants to ween itself off of imported, polluting fossil fuels. Panels have not only been resilient to extreme weather, but those who have them get their power back much quicker— which, as noted, benefits the entire neighborhood.

Progress these last few years has been encouraging:

Rooftop solar has grown significantly in Jamaica over the past decade, from less than 1.4 megawatts in 2015 to nearly 65 megawatts in 2023, a significant amount for a small island, experts say. Overall, solar and other forms of renewable energy made up about 10 percent of Jamaica’s power generation in 2023.

Still too slow — this would have been nice to hear in 1995 — but it seems inevitable.

No. They can, of course they can, but they don't want to. The US crisis is deliberately created with malice aforethought. Disaster economics are being used to accumulate wealth in a few hands and the mass of the population is being deliberately impoverished, disempowered, and angered, because they are no longer needed by the rich and powerful. The economy used to run on mass production and mass consumption, but automation and 3d printing makes the mass of people unnecessary. The psychopaths no longer rely on the rest of us for their power. The plan is to get rid of most of the people, and sort out the climate later.

The last mass-production factories will be producing autonomous hunter-killer drones.

Yes this is the other front we will have fight on. Not just climate change, but bond villains too. Oh and mass migration too, nearly forgot that.

Oh and mass migration too, nearly forgot that. — Punshhh

Do forget it, it is a nonsense. Nobody needs to starve in the US because of an influx of migrants until the warming gets really really bad and food is actually running short. People are going hungry and being conned into blaming migrants instead of being grateful for their work in food production, and blaming Trump and project 2025.

Yeah, good news. Rooftop solar builds in resilience. Amazing that they survived the storm so well.

Amazing that they survived the storm so well. — unenlightened

I think it’s incredible. Apparently if your roof survives, and they’re built to code, then they’ll likely survive as well. Some people even remove them before a big storm and then put them back, which is also cool.

Don’t forget when the tropics become uninhabitable.

There's going to be a lot of adjustments to be made by all of us, most of which are likely to be fatal. And there comes a time when the lifeboat is full, and one must fend off desperate swimmers or all will drown. If you are that desperate, then do what you must. Until then help your fellow suffers, because you might need another's lifeboat yourself one day and your home may become uninhabitable.

Tehran might be the first megacity to become uninhabitable.
https://www.intellinews.com/day-zero-aproaches-tehran-as-water-reserves-drop-below-5-410347/?source=Iran

The risk of drought is not much reported, but will probably be the first mass catastrophic result for humans. Millions of people and the taps run dry. But never mind, they're foreigners. There are many other cities at risk from drought, as well as those from sea level rise of course.

In time for COP30, New York Times published some nice charts that show 10 big things that have happened on the climate front in the last decade:

10 Years After a Breakthrough Climate Pact, Here’s Where We Are

1. Emissions are still rising, but not as fast as they were.
2. The last 10 years were the hottest on record.
3. Solar is spreading faster than we thought it would.
4. Electric vehicles are now normal.
5. Rich countries have put relatively little money on the table. (@unenlightened Meanwhile, some of the poorest countries are getting clobbered by extreme weather. They’re falling deeper into debt as they try to recover.)
6. Coal is in a weird place.
7. Natural gas, a planet-warming fossil fuel, is ascendant thanks to America.
8. Forests are losing their climate superpower.
9. Corals are bleaching more often.
10. U.S. electricity demand is soaring, in part because of A.I.

#7 is somewhat misleading. The chart shows LNG production, with USA leading the pack. LNG currently accounts for about 11% of gas production worldwide, although its share is projected to increase to 18% by 2030, mainly thanks to the US.