Yeah But, It’s Made in China

This is the first in a series I’m thinking of calling “Yeah But…”

It’s aimed at tackling the tired, lazy lines I see thrown around - often by trolls or bots, but also by grumpy climate denialist uncles - whenever someone says or posts anything about climate action, renewable energy or EVs. You’ve probably seen others too:

• “Yeah but, all the mining for batteries!”

• “Yeah but, what about China and India’s massive emissions?”

• “Yeah but, it’s cold today!”

They’re throw-away lines, rinsed and repeated across the internet to sow doubt, distract from action, and avoid responsibility. So I thought I’d develop a series of responses to them - one-by-one, clearly and concisely. If you think these could be useful - either for sharing with others or sharpening your own arguments - let me know and I will keep them going. And please, share questions you'd like me to address.

So let’s start with: “Yeah but, it’s made in China.”

I get this one a lot. And yes, it’s true: heaps of renewable energy tech like solar panels, batteries and EV components are made in China. But here’s the thing: So is almost everything! China manufactures the world’s smartphones, laptops, shoes, washing machines, t-shirts, teddy bears, MAGA caps, and just about every other product in your home. If you're going to criticise solar panels for being “made in China” while typing that criticism on a phone or computer also made in China... well, that's not exactly consistent.

But beyond that, here’s why the “made in China” line is a distraction:

1. We've outsourced manufacturing to China. Developed countries (including Australia) shifted their industrial bases offshore decades ago. That’s why China became the world’s factory. It's not a climate issue - it's a global trade one.

2. Clean energy made in China is still clean energy. China's already producing more renewable energy than any other country. So chances are that solar panel was made with renewable energy in China. But even if it was made using coal-fired power, it pays back that "carbon debt" within 1–2 years and goes on generating zero-emissions energy for 25 years or more. Over its lifetime, a coal-fired Chinese-made panel cuts vastly more carbon than it costs our Earth to produce.

3. China is leading on clean tech - and that’s a good thing. China now manufactures over 80% of the world’s solar panels, 60% of its wind turbines, and dominates EV and battery production. That’s not a reason to avoid clean energy. That’s a reason to stop falling behind.

4. It’s not about China - it’s about us. If you believe Australia should manufacture more of its own clean tech (and I do), then let’s support onshore manufacturing and policies that get us there. But using “made in China” as a reason to delay climate action is just a smokescreen. We can steer and change gears at the same time: decarbonise now, and build capacity for local manufacturing too.

Bottom line: If you're worried about China's role in the global energy transition, the best response isn’t to stick with coal. It’s to outcompete using clean energy made here - and start the transition anyway.

Now back to my "Yeah But ..." series proposal. What do you think? Would a series that busts climate denialist's throw-away lines be useful for you? Which “Yeah But” should I do next? Let me know in the comments or drop me a message.