U.S. and China to Clean Coal Together
New technology-sharing partnerships could help lead to a climate change agreement.
U.S. President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao of
China have announced several agreements for the two countries to cooperate on clean energy. The deals could help smooth the
way to a climate change agreement in which both countries agree to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
China has been dragging its heels over strict
cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, especially with the U.S. also so far failing to commit to such cuts. But if China doesn’t cut its emissions it will be
impossible to meet goals for averting dangerous climate change.
One thing that
could help–reduce emissions and convince China to agree to cuts–is sharing the latest technology with China, especially technology for making
cleaner power plants. The agreements seem to be a step in that direction.
This story is only available to subscribers.
Don’t settle for half the story.
Get paywall-free access to technology news for the here and now.
Subscribe now
Already a subscriber?
Sign in
You’ve read all your free stories.
MIT Technology Review provides an
intelligent and independent filter for the
flood of information about technology.
Subscribe now
Already a subscriber?
Sign in
One deal in particular seems promising. Scientists from both countries will cooperate on
developing cleaner coal plants through a new
U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, which will be jointly funded with $150
million. What’s more, a number of U.S. and Chinese corporations have agreed to
cooperate, including Peabody Energy, which will help with a project celled
GreenGen, and GE Energy, which will help with coal gasification. Both projects
could lead to cleaner coal plants that could be paired with technology
to capture and sequester carbon dioxide.
Other significant agreements include one
to develop natural gas resources, which could reduce greenhouse emissions
because burning natural gas releases about half the carbon dioxide as burning
coal. Another aims to improve the efficiency of buildings, industry, and consumer appliances. To
address growing emissions from cars, both countries will work
together to establish standards and roadmaps for the development of electric vehicles.
