China's energy surge poses a global dilemma
Five charts to start your data
Imagine walking through Beijing's bustling streets, where gleaming skyscrapers tower over bustling markets. Just a few decades ago, much of this was farmland. Now, it's a metropolis rivalling any in the West. But this rapid growth comes at a cost, one that's becoming increasingly clear as new figures show China's energy use per person is converging towards European levels.
Here is a startling graph making the rounds on Our World in Data. It showed China's energy consumption per capita closing in on that of the European Union.
The numbers tell an interesting story. In 1965, the average Chinese person used about as much energy in a year as it takes to keep a light bulb on for a month. Today, that figure has skyrocketed, nearing what an EU citizen uses. It's a testament to China's breakneck development – but also a warning sign for our planet.
This isn't just about China. It's about all of us. As we sip our morning coffee, the mugs we probably use are made in Chinese factories. The West has, in many ways, outsourced its carbon footprint to China for decades – the world's workshop.
Now, we face a thorny question: Is it fair to ask China to pump the brakes on its development when the West had no such limits during its own industrial revolution? It's like telling someone they can't have pudding after watching everyone else at the table enjoy theirs.
Source: Our World in Data
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