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Vox
27-05-2025
- Business
- Vox
The world's largest emitter just delivered some good climate news
is a correspondent at Vox writing about climate change, energy policy, and science. He is also a regular contributor to the radio program Science Friday. Prior to Vox, he was a reporter for ClimateWire at E&E News. Panda Solar Station in Datong, Shanxi Province of China. The first Panda Solar Station began operations on August 10, 2017. The station's installed capacity is 100MW, which is estimated to generate 3.2 billion kWh of electricity, saving 1.06 million tons of coal and reducing 2.74 million tons of carbon dioxide emission during its expected lifespan of 25 years. Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images China is the world's largest single greenhouse gas emitter, spewing more than double the amount of heat-trapping chemicals as the next biggest climate polluter, the United States. For decades, China's emissions soared ever higher as its economy grew, burning extraordinary volumes of coal, oil, and natural gas to light up cities, power factories, and fuel cars. The trend seemed unstoppable: At one point, China was approving two new coal power plants per week. It was an alarming prospect for the whole world. 'Eighty-five percent of emissions for the remainder of the century are projected to occur outside the EU and the US,' said Michael Greenstone, an economist at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. 'If we're going to make real progress on climate change, that will require reductions from that 85 percent.' And since China is the single-largest emitter, there's no feasible way to meet international climate change targets without them on board. But now, for the first time, there's been a shift: China's greenhouse gas emissions have actually fallen even as energy demand went up. According to a new report at Carbon Brief by Lauri Myllyvirta, an analyst at Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China's overall greenhouse gas emissions have dropped for the first time, thanks largely to the country's aggressive build-out of clean energy. Looking at official statistics and commercial data, the analysis shows greenhouse gas output fell 1 percent over the past year, even as China's overall energy use and economic activity increased. It's not a massive shift, but the fact that the curve has bent at all is a major development for the global effort against climate change. The growth rate of humanity's greenhouse gas emissions has begun to level off, but it has yet to decline. In order to eventually halt human-caused warming, that rate has to effectively reach zero, and in order to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement, that has to happen roughly within the next three decades. The decline of emissions in China is a big step toward this international goal, and the timing puts it on course for its own climate targets, too. China had previously committed to peaking its greenhouse gas emissions before 2030. 'This is a little ahead of schedule,' Greenstone said. 'The planet is happy about that.' Why did this happen? In large part, the decline in emissions came from clean electricity production. China deployed vastly more wind, solar, and nuclear power — sources that don't emit carbon dioxide — at a pace faster than its electricity demand growth. Meanwhile, its coal and gas electricity production dropped. China's emissions have dipped before due to economic slowdowns, so the fact that its economy grew while emissions declined is a significant turning point, putting China in a league with more than 30 countries, including the US, that have already done the same. China has established itself as the world's largest producer of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and batteries, driving down prices for the global market. It's deploying these technologies within its own borders, as well as exporting them en masse, and some of its biggest customers are developing countries. That means China's investments in clean energy redound to the rest of the world. Renewables accounted for 90 percent of new power capacity installed worldwide last year. Later this year, countries will gather in Brazil for the COP30 climate conference, where world leaders will hash out how to bring new, stronger commitments to cut their contributions to climate change by 2035. China's President Xi Jinping pledged that his country will come to the table with a comprehensive plan to further reduce its emissions across its economy, while the US may not show up at all. One his first day of his second term, President Donald Trump began the process of pulling the country out of the Paris climate agreement altogether. Again. However, in the Carbon Brief report, Myllyvirta noted that China's small drop in emissions could easily go back up. If its economy grows even faster, demand for fossil fuels could rise again. Whether that happens depends, in part, on how the dust settles on the tariff fight between the US and China. High trade barriers would slow China's economy. Losing the US as a customer could push China to try to compensate by installing more clean energy domestically. China also emits greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide. In particular, China is releasing high levels of HFC-23, a byproduct of making nonstick coatings and a pollutant that is thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere. China committed to halting HFC-23 pollution entirely when it signed the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2021.
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dennis Taylor's divorce from first wife, BBC U-turn, Alex Higgins threat
Dennis Taylor remains a hugely popular figure in snooker circles (Image: Getty Images/Visual China Group) The soothing voice of Dennis Taylor will again be gracing this weekend's World Snooker Championship final. The ex-Crucible champion, now 76, continues to be a beloved figure in the sport. In addition to his victory over Steve Davis in the iconic 'Black Ball Final' of 1985, Taylor is famous for his distinctive upside-down glasses, which played a crucial role in that win. Four decades on from his crowning moment, Taylor continues to tour the country with Davis and fellow legend John Virgo, discussing the most memorable match in snooker history and his overall career. Meanwhile, he continues to share his humour and insights from the BBC commentary box during Triple Crown events, including the current World Championship. Here's a rundown on Taylor, covering his career earnings, a BBC U-turn and his notorious encounter with fellow Northern Irishman Alex Higgins.... Taylor raked in around £1.5million in prize money during his professional career from 1972 to 2000. His 1985 world title netted him £60,000, equivalent to £183,000 in today's money, according to the Bank of England currency calculator. This year's champion will pocket £500,000. Taylor also clinched the Masters in 1987, staging an impressive comeback to defeat Higgins and bag £51,000. Taylor celebrates becoming world snooker champion (Image: Getty Images) It's 40 years since Taylor lifted the famous trophy (Image: Getty Images) Taylor's days in the commentary box looked numbered in 2022 when Virgo announced that the BBC planned to drop the pair, only for the corporation to have a change of heart after a public backlash from snooker fans. The pair were backed by veteran pro-turned-commentator Joe Perry, who has worked alongside both. "What they know, doesn't come cheaply, that's years and years of experience," he told the Metro. "They might miss a few tricks with some shots that some boys play today but they do know their stuff and they're excellent at their job." Taylor continues to commentate with John Virgo after a BBC U-turn (Image: Getty Images) Lancashire-based Taylor has three children with first wife Patricia. The couple later divorced, with Taylor partly putting the marriage breakdown down to the demands on him after winning the world title. He remarried in 2001 to Louise, with the couple having a son and a daughter. Taylor found had an, at times, volatile relationship with the game's notorious maverick, 'Hurricane' Higgins. Things took a dark turn during the 1990 World Cup when they represented Northern Ireland together, with Higgins threatening to have Taylor shot. The flashpoint occurred when Higgins, after losing a frame, insisted on taking Taylor's turn, which was against the event's rules. A fuming Higgins confronted Taylor with the chilling words: "The next time you go back home I'm going to have you shot." Alex Higgins and Taylor at the height of their rivalry (Image: Independent News) This alarming confrontation was witnessed by reporters and quickly became a major story. Reflecting on the row and their overall rapport in 2004 with the Belfast Telegraph, as Higgins fought cancer before his death in 2010, Taylor said: "There was some nastiness between us then, I can't deny that. "But I've got nothing but good feelings for Alex now - and I wish him all the best in his battle against cancer. The ill-feeling we once had has long gone."
Wales Online
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Ronnie O'Sullivan fears World Championship star would punish him in harsh admission
Ronnie O'Sullivan fears World Championship star would punish him in harsh admission Ronnie O'Sullivan will face Judd Trump or Mark Williams in the final of the World Snooker Championship if he can beat Zhao Xintong in the semis Ronnie O'Sullivan has been critical of his game at this year's World Snooker Championship (Image: George Wood, Getty Images ) Ronnie O'Sullivan has detailed which player he fears facing in the final of the World Snooker Championship. Despite cruising into the semi-finals of the Crucible for an unrivalled 14th time after beating Si Jiahui 13-9, 'The Rocket' remains critical of his own game as he seeks to clinch a record eighth title. The 49-year-old isn't satisfied with how he's been playing and is struggling with his cue action, even more so after snapping a cue earlier in the year. This had led to speculation about his participation in the prestigious tournament following an extended break from the sport. And while he is not quite hitting the peak levels of performance he's known for, O'Sullivan is still in contention to make history at the Crucible. But there is one man who he believes could prove particularly problematic for him should he make it to the tournament final later this week. He explained: "I have give it my best but I am hanging in there. Article continues below "I would like to be playing better but I have to try and find some form at some point. I don't feel rusty, I have only been playing for a month but I just couldn't face playing. It gets harder, look at the way Judd [Trump] is playing. "I won't be able to get away with what I have done so far. I can't get any worse, put it that way," reports the Mirror. O'Sullivan will face either Trump or Mark Williams in the final should he be able to get the better of Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals this week. And despite holding reservations about his own game, he remains optimistic in his meeting with the Chinese superstar. He explained: "I'm grinding it out. Had work done on my cue. The cue feels awful. I am playing awful. I need a new ferrule. Ronnie O'Sullivan thinks Judd Trump would punish him if he doesn't improve (Image: Tai Chengzhe, Visual China Group via Getty Images ) "I miss the buzz of playing well. I'm trying all sorts, to hold the cue in a different place, try anything. Si played poorly in the whole match. He let me off. He gave me chances. Article continues below "I'm looking forward to each match. I will keep plugging away. I love the Chinese guys to do well. It's not easy for them. They are brilliant. A credit to China. Zhao is a formidable opponent." In the semi-final stage, O'Sullivan is set to take on Xintong, a Chinese prodigy who has been making his presence felt after earning his spot as an amateur. Despite his past suspension, 27-year-old Xintong has demonstrated resilience and skill, having secured his place in the semi-finals by overcoming Chris Wakelin with a score of 13-5.
South China Morning Post
03-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
From Ayurveda to Buddhism, what Journey to the West says about early China-India exchanges
Journey to the West is not only a seminal work in Chinese literature but a prime example of early intellectual, cultural and diplomatic exchange between China and India. Advertisement The novel, written by Wu Cheng'en during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), recounts in 100 chapters the fantastical adventures of Tang Sanzang, a Chinese monk tasked with by the Buddha with retrieving sacred scriptures from India. He is joined on his journey by three disciples, each with supernatural abilities and a troubled past: Sun Wukong, the mischievous and powerful Monkey King; Zhu Bajie, a gluttonous pig demon; and Sha Wujing, a repentant river demon. In an allegory of spiritual enlightenment, the group face numerous trials battling demons, evil spirits and natural obstacles. Performers dressed as characters from Journey to the West prepare for a parade to celebrate Lunar New Year in Xian, China. Photo: Visual China Group via Getty Images While Wu is credited as the author of Journey to the West , it is widely accepted to be based on folk tales and oral accounts of a 16-year trip to India undertaken by Xuanzang (602-664), a Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar, during the Tang dynasty.
