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Jan Willem Blankert, special advisor, ASEAN, Delegation of the European Commission in Jakarta, presented his new book China Rising: Will the West Be Able to Cope? at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
The book was published by World Scientific in their series on 21st century business.
Blankert, a former EU Fellow at the school, discussed drivers for long-term economic growth, international competition, and environmental challenges. In the book, he addresses questions such as: Why do some countries get rich and others don’t? Does one country’s gain mean another country’s loss?
The biggest challenge posed by China’s rise will be its effect on the environment, Blankert said.
 China’s environmental challenge is huge
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Jan Willem Blankert
Special Advisor, ASEAN, Delegation of the European Commission in Jakarta |
“China’s environmental challenge is huge,” he said. “It is reminiscent of the early stages of industrialisation in Britain, the US, and other early starters.”
China’s total emissions today are at the same level as the US, but with four times as many people, Blankert said. The potential for an increase in emissions as China’s economy grows is enormous, he said. By 2050, the world will have nine billion people with three billion cars, he estimated.
“My biggest worry is what is already up there and what is being added,” Blankert said. “Is this sustainable? I doubt it.”
The EU has been a frontrunner in placing climate change at the top of its internal agenda, he said.
The US is also becoming more serious in the debate and is “becoming a responsible stakeholder again,” Blankert said.
China, on its part, is now a major producer of solar panels and wind energy technology, he said.
“They will discover the market and hopefully use this technology for themselves too,” Blankert said.
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