In a speech to the Royal Geographic Society last week UK energy and climate change secretary made a compelling case for the low carbon economy. His key point? Other countries may not have signed up for any global agreements on emissions, but they are already investing in heavily in renewable energy, energy efficiency and low carbon transport.
As Chris Huhne said in his speech:
Take China. In 2009, they poured $34bn into their low-carbon economy.
China now leads the world in solar photovoltaic production. Six of the biggest renewable energy companies in the world are based in China.
Last year, one million people sat the Chinese civil service exam. The most popular post got 5,000 applicants. It was ‘Energy Conservation and Technology Equipment Officer’.
China will build 24 nuclear power stations in the time it takes us to build one. By 2020, their nuclear capacity will have increased ten-fold.
They will complete 16,000km of high-speed rail in the time it takes us to go from London to Birmingham.
They have the most installed hydro capacity and the most solar water heaters.
And they are forging ahead on wind power, offshore and on.
So China knows what’s coming.