A Take on China’s Comprehensive Approach to Developing a Clean Energy Economy - Remarks at RETECH 2010
Last week, at the Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition (RETECH 2010) in Washington D.C., I gave a presentation on the comprehensive approach of China’s clean energy policies across the clean energy value chain–from innovation to manufacturing to deployment/exports. I argued that China has created a long-term, sustaining strategy to develop its clean energy economy through a three-pillar framework of (1) developing markets through demand creation, (2) financing of research, development and deployment, and (3) building physical and economic infrastructure. These are lessons for any other country to envy. This three-pillar approach is something that my colleagues at the Center for American Progress have developed. But for all its supposed success, coal still accounts for an overwhelming majority–almost 70 percent–of China’s primary energy, so to say China has reached the promised land of the low-carbon economy would be a stretch. To get to the promised land, I argue that at least two more pillars are needed–information transparency, and international collaboration. I managed to get my hands on a a full video recording of my 15 minute shtick in full, and am thus over-delivering on my promise in my last blog post to put up merely an outline of my remarks:
Julian L. Wong RETECH 2010 Presentation from Julian L. Wong on Vimeo.
This speech in fact serves as a preview of an upcoming report by my colleagues and I that takes this three pillar approach to analyze the clean energy policies of Germany, Spain and China, and makes the case that these countries are taking a comprehensive approach towards developing their clean energy industries, whereas all the United States has is a series of patchy and heterogeneous state action (e.g. state renewable energy standards) or federal action that is limited in duration (e.g. short-term renewable energy tax credits, or one-time green stimulus spending). Its a wake-up call to the United States, really. And while this is a rather U.S.-centric perspective, the fact of the matter is, in the context of getting a global climate deal done, the chances of the rest of the world stepping up their commitments is greatly enhanced if the United States gets its act together first. Watch for the report!
February 14th, 2010 at 10:10 am
First, never apologize for not having a powerpoint presentation! I am so tired of PPP masquerading for preparation. Second, thank you for posting your speech, job well done.
February 27th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
very useful framework for discussing China’s clean energy policy. Keep up the good work, Julian!
March 6th, 2010 at 12:58 am
[...] using the three-pillar framework of market creation, financing and infrastructure that I have previously articulated in a conference at RETECH 2010 last month (but also take note in that lecture that I point out that [...]