California and China - 2 - Why?

In an earlier post (http://greensc.blogspot.com/2009/12/california-and-china-1.html) , I introduced some of the government and NGO efforts to foster joint China-US  research and deployment in renewable energy and energy-efficiency.

But, of course, some Americans might ask, why cooperate with China?

It may be hard to believe now that China and US have a history of cooperation.  We were on the same side during WWII, a fact no middle age or older Chinese citizen would let me forget during my 5+ years in China, some who offered a 'thumbs up' and a toothless grin.

And the Americans are still singled out among foreigner powers for having helped Chinese education 100+ years ago, while other foreign powers seemed intent on carving up territory.  (Where did Madame Chiang Kai Shek go to school?)

And maybe hardest to believe is that before 2000, China was considered a "strategic partner" to America.   (Apparently, shortly before being selected as National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, a Soviet expert, authored a paper calling China a "strategic competitor."  I would like to find this paper.)

So why work with China on energy?


Here are some of reasons I've put together, some obvious, some may require a little getting used to, some debatable.   

• we breath the same air, in particular air pollution in Calif  (Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7279/full/nature08708.html) 
• we share an ocean, and the garbage now in it
• the Chinese people respect the US, and will proudly point to the hotel Bill Clinton stayed in (you did know Bill Clinton went to China, right?)
• together we emit 40% of co2 
• China can learn from us, but we can learn from China (ask anyone who's been there)
• China can be a new business model for developing countries: When China 'saturates' (everyone has a refrigerator), it will do so at lower energy use per capita then any previous developing country (and certainly lower than us)
• Other developing countries (India, Brazil ...) look to China as the model 
• This can be globalization in the best sense, sharing of complementary resources and talents
• A little friendly cooperation?
• A giant market to help jumpstart entire new industries, in which companies and workers on both sides of the Pacific and beyond will benefit.
• A laboratory to test technologies,  energy policies and best industry practices
• Combine China's lower cost labor, ability to get things done quickly with our own vast R&D, innovation and resources.  To maintain R&D, however we must build some here.
• Cooperation builds trust in other areas (like co2 emissions or compliance, in general)
• Competing for influence in Central Asia or Africa is so 19th century.  We can not afford a military or energy arms race - the stakes and economic costs are simply too high.
• We need China - they have a lot of smart people, too.

Here's one example between California EPA and China
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6bttjROtnvNZmY5MjU0YTEtNDg5MS00MDA2LWI0NDMtNDgxM2RjMTMxMjcw&hl=en

Another example,  developing a Climate Registry in Guangdang Province,  based on the one in California
http://greenleapforward.com/2009/06/28/the-energy-and-climate-registry-a-new-initiative-toward-carbon-disclosure-in-southern-china/

Next:   Lawrence Berkeley Lab and China

VIDEOS

Why Should Californians Care About Energy Efficiency in China?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quy_Q9mL4U8