US: China rise a 'Sputnik moment' for clean energy

Energy Secretary Steven Chu likened a series of Chinese milestones --including the development of the world's fastest supercomputer -- tothe Soviet Union's landmark 1957 satellite that led the United Statesinto the Space Race.

"America, I am optimistic, will wake up and see the opportunity. Andwhen it does, it still has the greatest innovation machine in theworld," Chu said in a speech entitled "Our New Sputnik Moment."

Chu said the United States still concentrated on research in areas suchas computers, defense and pharmaceuticals but that its funding forenergy innovation was paltry.

By contrast, China, the world's largest emitter of carbon blamed forglobal warming, is working to build the world's most expansivehigh-speed rail network and has developed technology for thehighest-efficiency coal plants.

"America still has the opportunity to lead in a world that will needessentially a new industrial revolution to give us the energy we wantinexpensively but carbon-free," Chu said.

"But I think time is running out," said Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist.

Chu, however, will enjoy little political leeway when he heads toCancun, Mexico, where representatives of more than 190 countries onMonday opened two weeks of talks on drafting a new global treaty tostem climate change.

President Barack Obama last year went to the climate summit inCopenhagen where he pledged US action to curb carbon emissions alongwith assistance for poor countries hardest hit by rising temperatures.

The rival Republican Party, which swept November 2 congressionalelections, is strongly opposed to a so-called "cap-and-trade" plan torequire industry to cut carbon. Many Republicans argue that it is toocostly in uncertain economic times, while some contest the sciencebehind climate change.

Chu countered that climate action would benefit the economy by opening up a new field in green technology.

But Chu also defended potential costs. He likened climate skeptics tohomeowners who are repeatedly told to change wiring but keep lookingfor electricians to tell them they do not need to.

"Do you actually go and you say, well, okay, that's a threat but Ithink it's more cost-effective -- I just make sure my fire insurance isup-to-date?" he said.

Two recent studies found that China's investment in green technologyhas outpaced that of the United States. But China has held firm inrejecting a treaty that would legally require it to cut carbonemissions.

The United States, backed by other developed nations, has insisted on abinding treaty, believing it is crucial to ensure global action -- andto win over support in Washington.

The Kyoto Protocol, which the United States rejected, asks only wealthynations to cut carbon emissions. The requirements run out at the end of2012.

The dispute has been tense at times. At UN-backed talks in October,China's chief climate negotiator, Su Wei, said the United States waslike a "pig looking in a mirror" and finding itself beautiful.

Vaughan Turekian, chief international officer of the AmericanAssociation for the Advancement of Science, said that the politicaldynamics have barely changed more than a decade after the Kyotonegotiations.

"The current climate summit process is unlikely to produce aglobal treaty that includes the United States as a signatory, let aloneone that would stand any chance of being ratified by 67 senators," hesaid.

 

1. The UN climate change conference in Cancun