Even China Learned—So What’s America’s Excuse?



Even China Learned—So What’s America’s Excuse?

In a move that has shocked environmentalists and policy experts alike, the U.S. Interior Department recently fast-tracked fossil fuel and mining projects on public lands by invoking what it called a national "energy emergency." Yet, no formal emergency has been declared. There’s no record in the Federal Register, no alert from the Department of Energy, and no Strategic Petroleum Reserve crisis. In fact, the U.S. is currently an energy exporter with stable production levels. So what’s the real emergency?

Many critics argue that this is not a crisis-driven policy, but a political payoff to fossil fuel donors and industry allies. The expedited approvals, which slash environmental review times down to as little as 14 days, overwhelmingly benefit oil, gas, and coal interests. Renewable projects like solar and wind remain excluded from these streamlined pathways.

To make matters worse, the administration is considering reducing the size of protected national monuments to facilitate drilling. These lands aren’t just ecologically important—they are sacred to Indigenous communities and home to irreplaceable biodiversity.

It’s a reckless step backward. Especially when juxtaposed with the example set by China.

Once infamous for its pollution and industrial sprawl, China has made a hard pivot. Massive investments in clean energy, aggressive expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure, and ambitious carbon neutrality goals have positioned the nation as a global green-tech leader. Though far from perfect, China’s strategy is clear: embrace sustainability not just for the climate, but for political stability and economic dominance in the 21st century.

America, by contrast, appears to be burning its future for short-term profits and political favors.

If China, an authoritarian state often excoriated by U.S. leaders for its environmental record, can learn from its mistakes and change course, what exactly is our excuse?

There is none.

This isn’t policy. It’s sabotage.

And the world is watching.

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