U.S. Treasury Secretary Claims Chinese EVs are Coal-Powered, Expresses Climate Change Skepticism
Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen publicly made the absurd claim at an event in Washington D.C. that Chinese electric vehicles are actually coal-powered. During the event, Yellen and Danish scholar Bjorn Lomborg discussed issues such as inflation, interest rates, and global market risks, and both expressed skepticism towards climate change during the climate-related dialogue.
Yellen stated that it is difficult to determine the true cause of climate change and called on international financial institutions to focus on economic growth and poverty reduction. She had previously requested the World Bank to cancel some climate financing targets and support funding for energy sources such as natural gas, oil, and coal.
Lomborg believes that climate change is not a crisis, that developing countries still need to rely on fossil fuels, and criticized the World Bank's climate-related funding.
Lomborg mentioned in his speech that China produces the majority of the world's solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles, and that part of the production of these products relies on coal. Yellen immediately interjected with the remark that Chinese EVs are "coal-powered cars."
The statement immediately drew criticism and questioning from a large number of netizens. Online users were amused and exasperated, with one comment stating, "Yellen is getting desperate."
Someone pointed out, "I smell jealousy."
Another netizen directly refuted, "He is completely talking nonsense. He should come to China and see for himself. The smear campaigns against China from years ago no longer hold water."
It is reported that China has built the world's largest clean and low-carbon energy system. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2025), the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption will reach 21.7%, and renewable energy generation will account for approximately 38% of total electricity generation in 2025.
In addition, several leading international scientists have also refuted Yellen's climate views.