The assignment focuses on China’s Energy Usage and Environmental Challenge. So,Compared to the US and India, does China use a lot or little energy relative to its population and economic weight?
China’s Energy Usage and Environmental Challenge
Research Area: China’s Energy Usage and Environmental Challenge
Carbon dioxide emissions is a global concern since it contributes to global warming and rising sea levels. Below are excerpts from an article published in Forbes Magazine on 1 July 2018 entitled “China Emits More Carbon Dioxide than the U.S. and EU Combined”1:
“China’s emissions passed those of the U.S. in 2005, and by 2012 had surpassed the
combined contribution of both the U.S. and the EU. Should recent trends continue, China
will be responsible for the most atmospheric carbon dioxide in less than 20 years.”
“The Asia Pacific region is home to both China and India – the world’s two most populous
countries and two of the largest carbon dioxide emitters.”
Assume that you are an economist doing a research paper on China’s energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. In the research, you also want to relate China’s carbon dioxide emission to that of other big emitters in the world, namely the U.S. and India. From various sources, you found some data (Table 1) on the three countries with the highest energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission levels in the world for the year 2018.Your research paper has to answer three key questions and explain why:
1) Compared to the US and India, does China use a lot or little energy relative to its population and economic weight? ;
China’s Energy Usage and Environmental Challenge
2) What are the key concerns regarding China’s high carbon dioxide emissions? (In your discussion, you should include concerns/arguments by the international community as well as China’s counter-arguments on the issue); and
3) What policies and actions can the Chinese government adopt to address international concerns on climate change as a result of China’s high energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions?
Detailed Instructions
|