China sticks with its coal-fired power stations

Despite all the evidence that coal-fired power stations are doing more damage to the climate than anything else, China is, literally, steaming ahead. John Kerry, climate-change envoy for the Biden administration and a man of stature in all ways, just couldn't persuade Beijing to change or reverse course. He didn't actually see Xi Zinping during his visit to China but he got the message loud and clear from the Chinese leader. "We Chinese will do things our way and in our time, thank you." Kerry, being a proper diplomat, didn't try to boss the Chinese officials he did see. That would have been counter-productive. But he did try to suggest that it might be a good idea to start getting rid of coal-fired power stations because etc etc. China is responsible for 30 per cent of the world's carbon emissions. What more needs to be said? But China says no, there is no hurry. Well we all know that the planet is being seriously damaged by what we humans have been doing since the industrial revolution and if we don't "hurry" and get on with doing somedthing about it we are all doomed. The intense heat around the world right now, including in China, should be ringing massive alarm bells, especially in Beijing. It has to be said, however, that China is developing solar power energy on a scale greater than all other countries combined. So that's a sort of compensation. But coal is still Enemy Number 1. As Kerry said, at least China is prepared to talk about the climate but no one can tell Beijing and its ruling communist party what to do. By the time China, and other countries, phase out coal altogether, it will probably be too late for the planet's survival.