How about embargo of the EU, which currently pollutes at roughly the same rate?
Did you know that energy production in the US is overall more environmentally friendly than in Germany, for example?
Also, Chinese people don’t drive stupid big SUV and trucks while running the AC on full blast all summer.
The diesel emissions scandal in the US had a European counterpart that was never dealt with. 2018 models are still polluting far above the official limits which themselves are more lax than the US. [1]
[1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180921140151.h...
That being said I’m much more concerned with trash burning (it still happens, I’ve seen it plenty when driving outside of cities) and the byproducts of the intense construction that can’t be slowed down without seriously hurting their economy. I know multiple Chinese people with their retirement investments in concrete manufacturing companies that are losing big with recent government clamping down on that.
Both of these are anecdotal, sure, but then again I don’t trust official Chinese government data so anecdotal has some value.
The USA and other developed countries went through their own periods of abusing the environment during their industrial revolutions so I have to assume China will get through this as well. Things are already improving. And at least their government acknowledges it’s something they need to improve rather than actively regressing like the USA.
The US is often singled out because of a dogmatic refusal to accept reality, and policies that actively increase emissions.
Time to get up