Former US Vice President Al Gore recently highlighted the irony of China emerging as a global leader in the energy transition, surpassing the US in climate action. Gore attributes this shift to consistent Chinese leadership and investment in renewable energy, noting that 65% of global energy investment now goes to renewables, while only 35% goes to fossil fuels.
China's remarkable progress in solar capacity is particularly noteworthy, with the country opening the equivalent of three new one-gigawatt nuclear plants in solar capacity every day, achieving their solar goal six years early. Gore emphasizes that Chinese leadership has been committed to meeting and exceeding climate goals, even shifting from carbon intensity measurements to actual reductions.
In contrast, Gore expresses frustration that the US has ceded this leadership role, citing policy whiplash between administrations as a major obstacle. He notes that the US has taken steps backward, such as the EPA proposing to end greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements for coal plants and refineries. Gore sees this as an attempt to downplay the crisis by ignoring the data, highlighting the importance of measuring and tracking progress in addressing climate change.
Despite the US's lagging behind, Gore remains optimistic about the global momentum towards sustainability, emphasizing that the planet doesn't care which country leads the charge as long as progress continues. China's emergence as a climate leader serves as a wake-up call for the US to reassess its priorities and recommit to addressing the climate crisis.
