The triumph of clean energy is inevitable |
Never before in the history of the United States has there been a government more openly hostile to climate policy. Donald Trump and his energy secretary Chris Wright have been relentless in their effort to undermine and even reverse the spread of clean energy and climate policy, whether that means attacking the science behind climate change or blocking nearly-completed wind projects. The only surprising part about their decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is that it took this long to happen.
Here’s the good news for those who care about climate policy: never has this mattered less than it does right now. Sure, it would be better on a bunch of different fronts if America had a government that made evidence-based decisions and participated in global treaties and arrangements. But when it comes to clean technology, the horse left the barn a long time ago — and it just keeps picking up speed.
Both China and India just marked the first decline in coal powered energy since the 1970s, due largely to the surging supplies of clean electricity in both countries. As Carbon Brief noted in their report, “China’s recent clean-energy generation growth, if sustained, is already sufficient to secure a peak in coal power. Similarly, India’s clean-energy targets, if they are met, will enable a peak in coal before 2030,........