The graphic above, created by the US Energy Information Administration, shows expected trends in coal use over the next two decades, with China’s consumption skyrocketing. This is the ‘business as usual’ scenario, assuming that China doesn’t do anything to stop their current rate of coal use. As scary as that is, there is hope. A lot of factors could effect coal use, not the least of which is the ‘Buy Local’ movement.
From Treehugger:
Other scenarios are equally plausible, involving certain overlooked freed-back loops and consumption drivers. For example:
* Escalating consumption of oil by China drives up the price of oil on world markets, slowing the US economy to an extent that OECD nation (US especially) consumers buy far fewer Chinese exports.
* Reduced OECD nation demand for made-in-China products slows the Chinese economy, which leads to reduced construction of coal-fired electrical generators there. And so on.
* The US actually takes climate action seriously.
Under the “Not Going To Happen” scenario, a predetermined outcome would certainly be reduced carbon emissions. People would be getting by with far less consumption. Reclamation and refurbishment of products would become major economic activities.
Imagine how different things could be if we didn’t buy so many Chinese exports. More Americans would have stable jobs. We’d have more security in knowing that the products were safe. Fewer American corporations would be growing fatter and richer due to their cheap factories in China at the Chinese people’s (and the world’s) expense. We wouldn’t waste so much fuel shipping things over. And of course, less pollution and strain on the environment.
But perhaps the biggest factor to stop this nightmare Chinese coal scenario – and global warming – would be buying less stuff, period. Our culture is far too dependent on inexpensive gadgets that we use for a little while and then toss in a landfill. Less is more!
Link [Treehugger]
