“Economic expansion” is only possible if there is more power to make things, and carbon in engines is exactly that. China is doing it like it’s 1850 all over again because that means no coal is wasted on cleaning, carbon capture and such.
In Rotterdam two new powerplants just started, one of Electrabel (Belgium), one of EON, that where going to have CO2 capture and storage under the North Sea. Their argument to forget about it is “no more money”. Our Rotterdam politicians claim to have no way to force them to comply with promisses. Of course Holland doesn’t need power plants, prices of electricity are falling and some plants are making losses. Until the coal producers start to really dump their coal. The price can be zero as long as they can get it to where it is burned.
What happens in Indonesia when it gets to it’s vast coal reserves? What happens if we adapt to chinese standards under ‘economic’ pressure. This is why we simply need more rewable energy, because that type of energy too can bring more production of goods and services we desire, only without the slavery and pollution.
The Skyfall island is a former under sea coal mining facility where koreans where kept as slaves.