China Is Pumping Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Into New Renewable Energy Projects by 2020

by Guest Sun Jan 08, 2017 1:24 pm

President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax created by the Chinese. The Chinese disagree—and are pumping billions of dollars' worth of investments into green energy over the next three years. On Thursday, Reuters published details of the latest installment of China's plans to break its deadly use of coal, an addiction that makes it the world's worst greenhouse gas emitter.

The funds—$361 billion by 2020—are designed to create 13 million green jobs, according to the country's National Energy Administration. New projects such as solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power will form half of all new electricity generation by 2020 and will create the energy equivalent to 580 million metric tons of coal.*

The announcement matches China's past pledges to kick its coal habit—the fuel that dominates its electricity production and creates heartburn for the country's leaders, as the public's angry reaction to foul air becomes a major political threat. Despite China's so-called "war on pollution," this week brought yet another toxic "airpolcalypse" to Beijing's skies.

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/01/china-pumping-hundreds-billions-dollars-new-renewable-energy-projects-2020