As John Howard continues to ignore the Kyoto protocol, China is making plans to build the largest solar energy generator in the world. The 100-megawatt facility will be built in the city of Dunhuang in the province of Gunsu. This project significantly overshadows any Australian attempts to harness renewable energy largely due to John Howard’s distinct lack of enthusiasm for, and deliberate attempts to thwart, any ventures aimed at reducing global warming, namely the construction of wind farms along parts of the Australian coast.
China signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998, and is one of the largest contributors of pollution into the world’s atmosphere. Around 70% of China’s energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels and hundreds of coal-burning plants are built each year in order to meet the almost insatiable energy demands of its burgeoning population. China’s plans to harness the sun’s energy are definitely a step in the right direction towards reducing global warming.
Meanwhile, John Howard continues to sidestep environmental issues, as he courts and supports the President of the United States in his determined refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol. Although not perfect, the Kyoto Protocol is the world’s best bet at the moment in order to start to seriously combat climate change, and John Howard would be wise to reconsider his current stubborn stance.
