Kevin Gallagher published the following opinion article in the Guardian on the Obama administration’s decision to file a WTO suit against China for its “trade distorting” green technology policies. He argues that the US should instead focus on making its own domestic investments in green energy.
US should exercise green power
To kick off 2011, the Obama administration has had the audacity to file suit at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against China’s policies to build green technologies.
This action is deeply flawed. The US should not try to beat China down, but should pursue its own green jobs policy and reform the WTO, so the rules allow countries to combat climate change.
The United States and China are the world’s largest emitters of the greenhouse gases. Together and separately, each nation should be doing all it can to develop clean technologies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
That is not how the Obama administration has seen it. Repeatedly, at United Nations climate negotiations, the US has said that it will do little to combat climate change unless China does. Moreover, the US has stated it will not provide any financial assistance to China to help reduce emissions. With no US support, China was left to its own devices.
Hi Kevin,
The problem here lies with governments and it’s global problem.
How can goverments get companies to clean up their act when most of the time theyr’e in bed with each other, an example is I believe that BP was one of Obama’s biggest contributors which helped get him elected.
So it would appear we need a global clean act in more ways than one.
Regards,
John.