Friedman: China May Beat Us in Green Race

Country's dire, polluted situation is forcing it to innovate

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 5, 2009 10:49 AM CDT

(Newser) – How do you say “clean your clock” in Chinese? asks Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. Americans may soon find out, because China could outmaneuver us in the next great global industry: clean power technologies, warns Friedman. China’s been forced to go green in a hurry because often, “its people can’t breathe, fish, swim, drive, or even see because of pollution and climate change.”

China is “innovating more and more energy efficiency and clean power systems,” and when it really gets serious, “watch out,” says Friedman, urging President Obama to act simultaneously on climate change and health care reform: “We need both now.” If the US doesn't lead the way on energy technology, “there is no way we are going to be able to afford decent health care for every American. No way.”

[Images (6)]

[Quotes (1)]

A Chinese demonstrator wears a face mask along side other demonstrators, as she protests against bad air quality. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

The skyline along one of Beijing's main avenues is obscured by pollution in the Chinese capital Tuesday, July 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

A passenger airliner flies past smoke generated by a coal power station in Beijing, China, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A man smokes under the wind power generator Tuesday June 2, 2009 in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

In this photo released by China's official Xinhua news agency, wind power generators are seen in Nan'ao, an island of south China's Guangdong province. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Ma Ka)

In this Oct. 12, 2005 file photo, workers build a highway near a wind farm in the Gobi desert, in China's northwest Gansu province. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)

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When China starts to develop solar, wind, batteries, nuclear and energy efficiency technologies, watch out.
You won’t just be buying your toys from China. You’ll be buying your energy future from China. - Thomas Friedman, the New York Times

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

Snowleopard

Jul 7, 2009 12:28 PM CDT

Friedman: "The U.S. is now home to only two of the ten largest solar photovoltaic producers in the world, two of the top ten wind turbine producers and one of the top ten advanced battery manufacturers. That is, only one-sixth of the world’s top renewable energy manufacturers are based in the United States. ... Sustainable technologies in solar, wind, electric vehicles, nuclear and other innovations will drive the future global economy. We can either invest in policies to build U.S. leadership in these new industries and jobs today, or we can continue with business as usual and buy windmills from Europe, batteries from Japan and solar panels from Asia.” ...this was worth of repeating.

Reader65069154

Jul 6, 2009 6:26 AM CDT

I used to respect some of your comments, Zaius, but no more. You're just another name flinger.

Newser001

Jul 6, 2009 3:29 AM CDT

' China May Beat Us in Green Race ' - This would be indeed detrimental to our economy if we don't extract its maximum opportunity - Re: Green Technology Revolution. Say what you may, but this must be investigated, underwritten, financed for R&D and ultimate production of cutting edge technologies, creation of parallel economies. We need this badly, people - Reinvigorate Silicon Valley and the like. WE must take point on this - Seriously.

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Friedman: China May Beat Us in Green Race