London's policy on climate change should begin in Beijing

If a windmill is about to blight your cherished view of the green English countryside, you might start to wonder why on earth the Department for Energy and Climate Change thinks it is a good idea to subsidise the monsters at vast cost to the British taxpayer. Why not retune some boilers in Guangdong instead? Or encourage the booming cities of China to power themselves with gas, not coal? There’s a whole raft of practical, carbon-saving steps which can be more cheaply achieved in the growing, bustling emerging world. After all, a ton of carbon saved in China is as good in global terms as a ton saved in the UK. So why ever spoil our green and pleasant land?

Hang on, though. Wasn’t the “green new deal” all about creating jobs in a new sort of economy? Making Britain a leader in an industry of the future? Not to mention making us just a little less dependent for our energy on geopolitically unstable regions of the world. Make China the focus of all our policy effort, and it will be China that reaps the knock-on benefits. Why would we realistically agree to that?

So who is right? Join us on October 20th 2011 at the Royal Society to find out.

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IQ2 audio, video & written

Gideon Henderson on changing the earth's climate

12 min 22 sec
Carbon trading can solve the climate crisis

1 hr 47 min
Major reductions in carbon emissions are not worth the money

1 hr 50 mins
Wind power offers a solution for global warming and energy security
We have no clean energy problem - we have the sun

IQ2 audio, video & written

Gideon Henderson on changing the earth's climate

12 min 22 sec
Carbon trading can solve the climate crisis

1 hr 47 min
Major reductions in carbon emissions are not worth the money

1 hr 50 mins
Wind power offers a solution for global warming and energy security
We have no clean energy problem - we have the sun

External videos

Randy Kritauksky: China and addressing climate change

43 min 22 sec
Bjørn Lomborg - Tackling Global Warming and Doing Good

42 min 56 sec
David Keith: A surprising idea for "solving" climate change

16 min 5 sec
George Monbiot’s opening statement at the Munk Debate on climate change

7 min 48 sec

Profiles

George Monbiot

Best articles & links on the web

China’s Power stations generate ‘future spike’ in global warming

Steve Connor, The Independent, 5 Jul 2011

Sulphur pollutants from coal-fired power stations in China have tended to cool the global climate over the past decade in contrast to the warming effect resulting from rising concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, scientists have found.
Climate Change, who cares any more?

Simon Kuper, FT, 17 Sep 2011

In the West, rich countries will buy protection, letting cities like Venice or New Orleans disappear and let the poor countries suffer the most consequences from the developed world’s use.
Greens must not prioritise renewables over climate change

George Monbiot, The Guardian, 8 Aug 2011

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