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U.S. Emissions Rise 4.2%, China's Fall 2.7%

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196 points triceratops | 4 comments | 02 Sep 25 20:02 UTC | HN request time: 0.655s | source
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jryan49 ◴[02 Sep 25 20:37 UTC] No.45108691[source]▶
Is there a future where China uses this as leverage with the rest of the world to put sanctions on the US if we don't transition?
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Workaccount2 ◴[02 Sep 25 20:42 UTC] No.45108771[source]▶
China is doing this for energy independence. Their fossil fuel supply chain is critically vulnerable. They don't care about the climate, but will happily play the optics.
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the_duke ◴[02 Sep 25 21:32 UTC] No.45109345[source]▶
> They don't care about the climate

I don't think it's that simple.

China is a signatory to Kyoto and Paris.

They do care about reducing pollution, and have managed to do so quite significantly in many cities.

China also has quite a bit to lose: many large cities on the coasts, and worsening water shortage problems.

National security probably plays a large role, and I reckon they would prioritize economy over climate, but the evidence implies that they do also care.

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1. chrisco255 ◴[02 Sep 25 21:45 UTC] No.45109496[source]▶
Water shortage has nothing to do with global warming, just overpopulation in specific regions. The world if anything is getting more precipitous than in the past.
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2. adgjlsfhk1 ◴[02 Sep 25 21:52 UTC] No.45109594[source]▶
Climate change has local effects. More flooding in some areas can coexist with more drought in others.
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3. chrisco255 ◴[02 Sep 25 22:14 UTC] No.45109809[source]▶
Drought prone areas have actually reduced in recent decades overall. Drought and flood cycles are also impacted by ancient oceanic factors including the El Nino/La Nina cycle as well as the multidecadal oscillations in Pacific and Atlantic.
4. rsynnott ◴[03 Sep 25 17:33 UTC] No.45118441[source]▶
> Water shortage has nothing to do with global warming

I mean, on a global basis, sure, not really. But if you currently get your water supply for your megacities from rivers A, B, C and D, then yeah, that's vulnerable, and that river E on the other side of the country with no infra has increased in flow will be little consolation.