China: The World's Largest Energy Consumer and Investor in Clean Energy

New Wilson Center Publication Explores China's Energy and Climate Trends

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 2010 China achieved number one status in two infamous categories: energy consumption and carbon emissions. In the same year, however, it was also the world's number one investor in clean energy, nearly doubling the U.S. investment over the same period.

While counterintuitive, these are just some of the indicators of the intriguing trends in China's energy and environment sectors. This China Environment Forum publication takes a deep look into fast changing energy and climate trends within China and how they pose opportunities and challenges to U.S.-China relations.

"China and the United States are the two largest national emitters of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change, and together comprise almost half of global emissions. Any global solution to climate change must therefore include participation by these two countries." –Joanna Lewis, Georgetown University  

Highlights of the report include:

• An extensive overview of the history of U.S.-China climate and energy cooperation
• The status and potential of carbon capture and sequestration in China
• Spotlights on NGO activities in China
• Extensive articles looking into green jobs, MRV issues, U.S.-China cooperation on renewables,  industrial energy efficiency, and water pollution and supply issues within China

Read the China Environment Forum's China Environment Series 11.

About the China Environment Forum: Since 1997, the China Environment Forum has been active in creating programming and publications to encourage dialogue among U.S. and Chinese scholars, policymakers, businesses, and nongovernmental organizations on environmental and energy challenges in China.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the national, living memorial honoring President Woodrow Wilson.  In providing an essential link between the worlds of ideas and public policy, the Center addresses current and emerging challenges confronting the United States and the world.  The Center promotes policy-relevant research and dialogue to increase understanding and enhance the capabilities and knowledge of leaders, citizens, and institutions worldwide.  Created by an Act of Congress in 1968, the Center is a non-partisan institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. and supported by both public and private funds.

SOURCE Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars