China and a Low-Carbon Economy

As a major exporter of large quantities of raw materials to China, Australia supports China’s high-carbon economy. Australia has been the first major country to achieve economic recovery, in part due to its trade relations with China. Both Australia and the United States, among high energy consuming countries of the world, have very high rates of energy consumption at the equivalent of around nine tons of coal per capita (Russia has the highest with 9.5 tons).

Despite their alliance with America on national defense (although now becoming suspicious of the U.S commitment to security), Australia does not stand by America on the idea of low-carbon economies. If China were to accomplish a conversion to a low-carbon economy, this would result in fewer exports of coal and ore from Australia to China. Also, the application of low-carbon technology may reduce China’s purchases of Australia’s natural gas (China’s Guangdong Province uses Australian gas). Australia also has developed clean coal electricity generation technology in cooperation with China. Every year, China sends many students to study in Australia.

Obama suggests to emerging nations that they establish low-carbon economies, but how does one balance conservation and growth in a fair way? Should developed countries use less or should emerging nations incrementally reduce use? Regardless, China has been working hard on reducing its energy consumption.

We Should Take an Optimistic
Look at Obama’s Viewpoint

First, China’s economy is rapidly growing with low energy consumption (two tons of standard coal per capita annually), but higher-carbon usage has begun to create serious problems such as environmental pollution and mining accidents. Air pollution is very severe in China, especially in many metropolitan areas. Beijing’s air was much cleaner due to restrictions of car use during the Olympics. China’s per capita water resource [usage] is only half of the world’s average, but a large number of rivers and lakes are polluted. Thermal power generation has triggered severe acid rain, destroying forests and harming the biosphere.

Second, massive imports of crude petroleum, gas, and coal bring huge uncertainty to China’s economy and national security. This is not only because China’s navy is not strong enough to protect its transport lines; as China becomes more and more reliant on energy-exporting countries such as Russia, China then relies on those countries more than they rely on China, forcing China to be involved in regional conflicts and to bear excess responsibilities.

China imports 200 million tons of crude oil per year that is mostly used by transport vehicles. If China had private cars just like America, China would have to expand oil imports to 800 million tons. For China, which has a population larger than the U.S. by 100 million, a low-carbon economy is the way to reach the U.S. standard of living. The economy is running out of oil reserves.

Third, a low-carbon economy is an economic growth point after the financial storm, and China matter-of-factly has had a low-carbon lead over other economies. Developing a low-carbon economy, therefore, is not only to China’s overall advantage, but also is advantageous for its security. China is abundant in the natural resources required for low-carbon technology.

China exports solar water heaters worth billions of U.S. dollars, and annually supplies developed countries with millions of electric bikes and motorbikes with a value of nearly $4 billion. China’s advanced electric car system can be sold to developing nations. By using cheap lead-acid batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries, an electric car only costs at around 10 thousand Chinese yuan. An electric car’s energy consumption is less than 100 yuan per month, which is far cheaper than regular fuel vehicles. It can run at 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) per hour with 100 kilometers (62 miles) on one charge. If applied in counties and towns, local battery changing stations can be built to help electric car owners.

For large cities, the long-distance routes and expensive compatible batteries result in a high price for appropriate electric-only vehicles that will cost hundreds of thousands of yuan, despite utilization of the BYD iron lithium battery, which is large and heavy but cheap, safe, and has a long life. Hybrid electric vehicles are going to be developed that require cheap small-size lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries, or fuel cells.

Cheap triple-cylinder fuel engines will then be created to further reduce fuel costs and lower oil consumption to 2 liters (1/2 gallon) per 100 kilometers (62 miles). The government can levy a smaller sales tax on purchasing hybrid vehicles, making their price close to that of regular cars. In certain developing phases, hybrid vehicles can be set-up as the standard motor configuration, which can reduce the oil consumption of each car to one-fifth of its previous consumption, massively reducing oil imports.

The use of electric cars — which should be a top priority — could decrease imports of natural gas that buses rely on. Electric cars are powerful and could possibly use lithium batteries. Charging or changing stations would be cheaper and safer than gas stations.

About 70 percent of current battery power comes from thermal power. Car parks should set-up facilities to charge cars at night, such as the electro-trough, so that there is no increase in energy consumption. Wind, solar, and optical power charging systems should also be developed — not only to benefit the automotive industry, but also to significantly stimulate the entire economy.

Developing new energy and a low-carbon economy requires solutions with various technical problems, such as energy systems and materials, which can stimulate high-end technology development.

Fourth, a high-carbon lifestyle may not prevail outside of the United States and Australia, where not everyone likes driving SUVs. For instance, the younger generation in Europe and Japan are not keen on buying cars. Even in America, it differs in various places. New Yorkers, for example, prefer the subway to cars as day-to-day transport, while cars (even fashionable eco-friendly vehicles) are essential for Los Angeles since automobile usage dictates city planning and design.