By Hugh Holland
How much more proof do we need? After the ever-growing list of climate tragedies we have seen around the world in recent months and years, just last week, NYC was once again choked in smoke from wildfires in Pennsylvania and NY State, caused by very rare drought conditions this November. Beef prices are the highest on record because western cattle ranchers in the US and Canada had to downsize their herds. They can’t feed them due to drought from high temperatures. Still, some politicians want us to blame food inflation on “the government” and grocery stores. Dah.
Elections are often dominated by inflation and the economy, but the economy is increasingly dominated by the rapidly rising climate damage to food, shelter, and infrastructure.
With all due respect, nature (the global climate) will ultimately prevail over any amount of political, financial, or psychological excuses from anywhere. The atmosphere doesn’t know or care which country, race, religion or politics these heat trapping emissions come from.
After 40 years of uncertainty and denial about climate change, for monetary and political advantage rather than scientific reasons, it should be obvious that we must replace energy from fossil fuels with energy-efficient electricity from clean solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuels, nuclear, and green hydrogen from electrolysis. It’s time to stop arguing about which source of electricity is best and go flat out on all of them. Global manufacturing and the fossil fuel industries themselves now admit they have seen the light. And yet we still have politicians spreading disinformation to discredit long-proven solutions just to satisfy their own selfish ambitions.
Due to its population, China makes 34% of total global emissions but only half as much as the US and Canada on a per capita basis. But while Western politicians flounder in confusion, Xi Jinping has declared China will be carbon neutral by 2060. Will they succeed? You can bet on it. China is first cutting the energy demand side for transportation and mobile equipment by 60% with energy-efficient electrified technologies. That means they can then cut the supply side for electrical energy by 60% slightly after.
China has already installed 46,000 km of high-speed electric rail vs 196 km in the US. That takes passengers directly to city cores, with no need for time and energy-wasting trips to an airport.
In 1985, China made 5,200 cars. In 2021, China made 26 million cars and 40% were energy-efficient EVs. In 2021, the US made 9 million cars with 3.2% electric, Japan made 8 million, Germany made 3 million. Norway doesn’t make cars but 90% of cars sold there are now electric, making them the world leader in EV sales.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has so far produced 175 million tonnes of carbon emissions. Those emissions alone are equivalent to $32 billion in damages. The recent war in the Middle East has so far produced an estimated 281,000 tonnes of CO2.
The only thing that can win the battle against climate change is international understanding, collaboration, and peace, under the guidance of the UN IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change). Can it be done in time to avoid total disaster? Only if the other 9 of the world’s ten biggest polluters, including the US and Canada, can match China’s determination. The UE can likely match China because they have never had significant oil reserves. Can North America match China?
The challenge now is to try to prevent China from gutting the Western industrial base while we catch up without destroying essential international collaboration. Diplomacy is the key.
Hopefully the COP 29 global Conference now underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, will be a tipping point.
Hugh Holland
Hugh Holland is a retired engineering and manufacturing executive now living in Huntsville, Ontario.
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The Real Person!
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Re: How Much Proof Do We Need…Indeed! Informative and excellent article. Thank You.