China to Announce Cap-and-Trade Program to Limit Emissions

[ElNono]

WASHINGTON — President Xi Jinping (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/x/xi_jinping/index.html?inline=nyt-per) of China (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/china/index.html?inline=nyt-geo) will make a landmark commitment on Friday to start a national program in 2017 that will limit and put a price on greenhouse gas emissions, Obama administration officials said on Thursday.

The move to create a so-called cap-and-trade (http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/greenhouse_gas_emissions/cap_and_trade/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) system would be a substantial step by the world’s largest polluter to reduce emissions from major industries, including steel, cement, paper and electric power.

The announcement, to come during a White House summit meeting with President Obama (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/barack_obama/index.html?inline=nyt-per), is part of an ambitious effort by China and the United States to use their leverage internationally to tackle climate change (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) and to pressure other nations to do the same.

Joining forces on the issue even as they are bitterly divided on others, Mr. Obama and Mr. Xi will spotlight the shared determination of the leaders of the world’s two largest economies to forge a climate change accord in Paris in December that commits every country to curbing their emissions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/world/asia/xi-jinping-china-president-obama-summit.html

[Splits]

:cry but we need more research :cry

:cry why do anything if China is going to continue to do nothing :cry

[ElNono]

Well, I've actually been reconsidering my position on this lately, tbh. As I talked with FuzzyLumpkins back then, my main concern centered squarely on the economic impact. But I've been reading and listening to discussions on that specific area since then, and I'm convinced now that the carbon economy will be a thing of the past, and whatever technology replace it, gradually or not, will take over those jobs, etc. It's hard to predict what that technology will look like. It could be improved batteries, better energy generation, etc.

If the economic impact is indeed no longer a barrier, then I have no other objection to go deeper into reducing emissions. That was my main issue, and if it no longer will be an issue, it makes sense that we forge ahead.

[TeyshaBlue]

EN with the intellectual honesty goods :tu. Probably need to explain that concept to splits. :lol

[boutons_deux]

USA shouldn't do anything to limit GHG because China will always out pollute USA, the bogus AGW-denier argument has gone.

but both India and China are moving to solar and wind as fast as they can.

[Splits]

EN with the intellectual honesty goods :tu. Probably need to explain that concept to splits. :lol

Something you'll never be caught doing.

I applaud EN for having intellectual curiosity and honesty.

[TeyshaBlue]

:rolleyes

[boutons_deux]

"If the economic impact is indeed no longer a barrier, then I have no other objection to go deeper into reducing emissions"

the economic and human impact of GHG cooking the planet? not worried about that? or just worried about your price of gasoline?

breakthroughs in solar, wind, energy storage will be transformative. BigCorp protecting itself is the biggest impediment to progress. Exxon knew GHG were catastrophic in the '70s, and has spent, along with other BigCorps $100Ms, if not $Bs over 40 years, on propaganda to deny AGW.

$200B/year OECD says is spent subsidizing BigCarbon. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/21/oecd-nations-200bn-subsidisies-fossil-fuels-climate-change. and BigCarbon still dumps its "external" costs on everybody else.