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Comment by RickJWagner | Hacker News Reader

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I am still confused why this argument is still valid to anyone... Not only China has 4 times more population than the US, but they produce all the stuff that the US buys, so if the US had to produce all that stuff on their own they would emit so much more carbon.

The US has no new coal plants under construction.

2024 had the highest number of Chinese plants in a decade.

Yet 2025 power sector emissions fell, which is quite discordant with the picture you're attempting to paint.

https://ember-energy.org/data/electricity-data-explorer/?dat...

They're adding capacity, not increasing utilization. Many new plants are smaller, more grid-friendly, more-efficient replacements for aging plants.

Coal Utilization growth in China is negative and has been for years.

US has barely any new renewables (both manufacturing and installation) when compared to China. One virtue doesn't wipe thousand sins.

Who are "we"? China population is 4 times the US, with carbon emissions just 3 times greater, making them produce less carbon per capita.

If we are judging per capital emissions, Australia, Canada and 11 other countries emit more than the US. China does do better, by 10 places.

There are 182 countries doing better than China.

https://www.worldometers.info/co2-emissions/co2-emissions-by...

Obviously what matters is how much of the world’s products they produce - especially products that require high energy input. I can’t imagine why you think per capita is the appropriate statistic to compare.

This has already been pointed out to you in this discussion, so it seems you are not actually engaging with the information you’re being provided with for some reason.

Perhaps you missed the nuance that the other person discussed per capita usage? My response was directed towards their line of discussion.

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