China and the environment

China’s growing tendency to ignore market forces is working in one surprising field: clean technology. For years China has resisted pressure to control carbon emissions, insisting that it needs to develop first, and that its people could be among the hardest-hit victims of global warming, Beijing has mobilized its resources, as perhaps only China can. With the generous state subsidies, Chinese companies have, for example, taken the lead in solar cell production, and are powering ahead in many other areas. This fall Chinese leaders announced new targets for reducing carbon emissions, which, if met, would put the nation in the lead on combating climate change by 2020.

China has made green technology a national priority, launching major research initiatives on solar-powered batteries and wind technology. Its green stimulus package amounts US$218 billion, the largest in the world, resulting in the founding of dozens of alternative energy companies within the last year.

(Newsweek, October 26, 2009.Adaptado)