[Source / Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] Using climate issues as a pretext to suppress other countries is a trick that some Western countries are keen on. Especially after the Trump administration came to power and carried out a major cleanup of clean energy policies, the "climate hypocrisy" of the US and the West has become increasingly exposed.
Just before the UK hosts the "International Energy Security Summit" next week, The Guardian reported on April 16 that Chinese officials will not attend the summit due to scheduling conflicts, which is a "blow" for the UK. The Trump administration will send an official who denies climate change to participate in the conference, attempting to use this opportunity to hinder energy transition and strengthen dependence on American oil and gas resources.
Industry insiders pointed out that it is very disappointing that the summit invited global fossil fuel giants and major oil-producing countries but ignored truly front-line countries facing climate crises. A founder of an industry organization said that China's absence is a significant setback for the industry but highlights that China will not succumb to the Trump administration's tough tactics to obstruct progress.
On April 24-25, the International Energy Agency will host an energy summit in Lancaster House in London, hosted by the British government, covering topics such as climate transition, energy security, and geopolitical risks.
A list of undisclosed guests shows that more than 75 countries have been invited, with approximately 60 countries expected to attend the summit. Many major oil and gas producing countries are on the list; however, Russia has been excluded.
The report states that due to scheduling conflicts, senior Chinese energy officials will not attend the summit. The US will send a senior White House official. Other attendees include major oil and gas companies and large technology enterprises. Oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have also been invited.
On January 5, people gathered at the beach in California after sunset. The Esther offshore oil platform can be seen in the distance. Visual China
The Guardian described that since the Trump administration launched a tariff war over tariff issues last month, this was supposed to be the first major international conference where both China and the US would participate together. As the world’s largest producer of clean energy technology, China's absence from the summit is clearly a blow to the UK. However, the US may privately welcome it.
Tzeporah Berman, founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, said: "There is no doubt that China's non-participation is a huge setback. Trump will send MAGA supporters who deny climate change to attend the conference, trying to distort the direction of the dialogue and push countries to increase their dependence on American oil and gas rather than turning to clean energy."
He added: "China leads the world in renewable energy and electric vehicles. Their refusal to participate sends a clear signal that they will not submit to the tough tactics of the Trump administration to obstruct progress."
Robbie MacPherson, former head of the cross-party climate change group in the UK Parliament, said: "The transition away from fossil fuels requires participation from all emitting countries. Cooperation with China is crucial to ensure actions to protect the Earth and initiate the era of renewable energy."
The report mentioned that recently, some British MPs have attacked China over infrastructure issues, while Energy Minister Ed Miliband has faced criticism from some media for hoping to establish closer ties with China in energy technology supply.
On April 12, the UK Parliament passed an emergency bill granting the government the power to control a steel plant owned by a Chinese company and ensuring its continued operation. Some politicians have attacked all Chinese enterprises and the Chinese government.
On April 16, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the UK emphasized that the anti-China remarks of individual UK politicians are extremely absurd and reflect their arrogance, ignorance, and distorted mentality. Any attempt to politicize commercial issues and maliciously hype them will damage the confidence of Chinese enterprises in investing in the UK and harm Sino-British economic and trade cooperation.
This summit has also sparked dissatisfaction among some environmentalists who fear that the summit will be dominated by fossil fuel interest groups.
Many developing countries invited to the summit are those with strong oil and gas interests, such as Nigeria and Algeria, as well as countries that are beginning to develop fossil fuels or have large untapped reserves, such as Guyana, Senegal, and Tanzania, rather than the poorest and most vulnerable to climate crises.
Mohamed Adow, director of the African think tank "African Energy Transition," criticized: "It is very disappointing to see the Labour government host an energy summit without inviting those at the forefront of the climate crisis. The UK government has just cut aid budgets, putting many of the world's poorest people in danger now and in the future, and now ignores their existence at an important energy summit."
Berman warned that the US might use the summit to promote its own oil and gas exports.
"This summit will be a key test to see if the International Energy Agency and the UK can firmly resist pressure from fossil fuel interest groups," she said. "The Trump administration is trying to maintain countries' dependence on American oil and gas through strong-arm tactics. After all, sunlight and wind energy are unowned resources, posing a survival threat to governments seeking to profit from creating energy dependencies."
In recent years, China has not only made remarkable progress in its own development of clean energy technology but has also provided related technologies and services to other countries, reducing the cost of using green technologies globally. Some European and American countries that once claimed to be environmental advocates have instead used environmental protection as a pretext to squeeze the development rights of other countries, indulging in geopolitical confrontation.
On January 20, US President Trump signed an executive order announcing that the US would withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The Washington Post previously published an article titled "Global South Increasingly Disillusioned by Hypocrisy on Climate Issues," pointing out that under the guise of noble rhetoric, Western countries' selfish energy policies are harming the poor around the world.
The article stated that as early as the United Nations Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992, the UN proposed a fundamental principle regarding climate issues: wealthy countries should provide most of the funds and technology to underdeveloped countries, helping poorer nations address climate challenges without sacrificing their economic development paths.
However, wealthy countries have not only ignored the plight of poorer nations and failed to provide promised funds but have actively taken actions to restrict poorer countries' access to energy, preventing them from obtaining financing for fossil fuel projects.
The Financial Times published an article in December last year titled "Only China Can Lead the World in Addressing Climate Change." It pointed out that as a major carbon emitter, the US cannot organize the world but instead forces it to adapt to the chaos caused by America's "polarized and depressing ignorant democracy."
Trump's first executive order upon taking office in January was to prioritize the release of US fossil fuel production, suspend federal wind energy projects, freeze funding for clean energy projects, and announce that the US would re-withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Some Republicans have "weaponized" climate issues, urging Trump to retain clean energy tax credits solely to "prevent China or other hostile countries from profiting."
Regarding the Western炒作of clean energy issues, China has repeatedly emphasized that it always attaches great importance to addressing climate change and is actively promoting the green transformation of energy and adjustments in industrial structures. Developed countries should honor their commitments and create favorable conditions for international green cooperation. Protectionism, unilateralism, and politicization will only harm the common interests of the international community.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494194867136889371/
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