From Guest Blogger Emily Jones: The Paradox of China: Most-polluting Nation on Earth Is Biggest Producer of Clean Energy

One of the images that many of us are accustomed to seeing of life in China is that of people wearing masks as they walk down the street. Unfortunately, the need of masks is due to the high level of pollution China has in its main cities. However, although the country is one of the most polluted, it is also the one leading the race when it comes to converting to clean energy forms. In fact, China has made it a priority for the country to convert to green energy, and is fulfilling their objective so far.

China’s green energy plan was initiated in December when China’s Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol met to discuss the country’s options. Looking to exchange the country’s use of coal with that of solar, wind, hydroelectric, and nuclear power, China has already made great improvements. Already one of the largest producers of solar panels, the country has doubled its 2016 numbers in terms of actually producing solar energy. A big step forward, seeing how each year around 1.1 million people still lose their lives to the pollution that surrounds their daily life.

Not only is the country set on solar power, but it is also making great additions to its wind powered energy sector as well. In 2015, China surpassed the wind capacity of Germany, India, and the United States combined. Although the number of people that may lose their jobs as the use of coal is lessened, the number of new jobs that will be produced with the renewable energy plants is far larger. Right now, the numbers show that China employs about 2.5 million workers in its solar sector, with the total number of renewable energy workers being 3.5 million. And with the budget for the green energy plan being $367 billion in 2017, China’s National Energy Administration states that 10 million new jobs will be added to the workforce.

Although many are skeptical about the plan, China has also stated that they see the financial benefit of the project as well. With the increase in the need for renewable energy, the business prospects of producing clean energy equipment is also looking very profitable. Therefore, not only is China investing in green energy for themselves, but they are also making a point of leading the manufacturing business in the same field. One could say it’s a win-win situation.

With such big numbers and improvements being acted on, China’s future is looking brighter than ever. With the Chinese government backing the plan to the fullest, how long before one of the world’s biggest polluting countries becomes the cleanest? The numbers are on their side, and apparently time is too.