Chinese consumption of coal and renewable energy

[cprise]

22. Reasons that outlook will probably change:

The Chinese are feeling the brunt of environmental degradation, its the top cause of social unrest over the last decade, and they have proposals for implementing BOTH a carbon tax and cap-and-trade system in tandem--in the short term.

Some of their other environmental problems cannot be de-linked from high coal consumption.

Add to this picture the fact that they are one of the few societies whose leaders are not wed to the idea of perpetual economic growth (e.g. this is a capitalist phase they are going through).

That coal trend line is going to start sagging earlier than you think...