 more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas over a 20-year period. (Some scientists argue that carbon dioxide is still more potent because it lasts longer in the atmosphere than does methane, which has an atmospheric lifetime of 12 years.) The EPA estimates that drilling for natural gas emits 0.04 to 0.30 grams of methane per well per second in the United States, the annual greenhouse gas equivalent of as many as 24 million cars.

But beyond the mechanical risks of fracking, there’s a more fundamental problem: Shale gas might not even significantly reduce China’s coal dependence. In the United States, fracking proponents have argued that natural gas is crucial to help with the shift from the dirtiest fossil fuels to renewable resources. But that argument falls apart in China. Unlike what happened in the United States, the Energy Information Administration’s future projections of China’s energy demand suggest that in 2040, coal will continue to dominate while natural gas, even with a golden era, will fuel only 8 percent of demand. “The whole pie is growing so rapidly that you still see a very carbon-intensive mix,” says Rachel Cleetus, a senior economist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. As China continues to grow its economy and expand its cities, it will need every resource it can get—coal, gas, solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear. James Fallows, a senior correspondent at The Atlantic who spent many years covering China, notes that the Chinese government “is pushing harder on more fronts than any other government on Earth” to develop energy sources other than coal. “The question is, will they catch up? Who will win that race between how bad things are and how they’re trying to deal with them?”

Despite all these unknowns, the Obama administration is now encouraging other countries to tap their shale reserves. A year after Obama and Hu announced their shale gas agreement, in 2010, the State Department launched the Global Shale Gas Initiative, an “effort to promote global energy security and climate security around the world,” as one researcher put it. As a JPMorgan research memo stated, “Unless the popular environmental concerns are so extreme, most countries with the resources will not ignore the [shale gas] opportunity.”

Toward the end of our trip, we visited a village near Luzhou, a port city on the Yangtze with a population bigger than Los Angeles. We met a middle-aged woman named Dai Zhong
more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas over a 20 - year period. (Some scientist argue that carbon paper dioxide is even more potent because it lasts longer in the standard atmosphere than perform methane, which has an atmospheric lifetime of 12 year .) The EPA calculate that drilling for lifelike accelerator emits 0.04 to 0.30 grams of methane per well per second gear in the United States, the annual greenhouse gas equivalent of as many as 24 million car. 

 But beyond the mechanical risks of fracking, there ’s a more fundamental problem: Shale gas might not even significantly reduce China ’s ember dependence. In the United States, fracking proponents have argued that lifelike gas is crucial to help with the shift from the dirtiest dodo fuels to renewable resource. But that argument falls apart in China. Unlike what happen in the United States, the Energy Information Administration ’s future projections of China ’s energy demand suggest that in 2040, coal will stay to dominate while natural gas, even with a golden era, will fuel only 8 percent of demand. “ The whole pie is develop so rapidly that you even visualize a very carbon - intensive mix, ” says Rachel Cleetus, a senior economist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. As China continue to grow its economy and expand its cities, it will need every resource it can beget — coal, gas, solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear. James Fallows, a senior correspondent at The Atlantic who spent many years cover China, notes that the Chinese government “ is pushing hard on more front than any early government on Earth ” to develop energy sources other than coal. “ The question is, will they catch up? Who will succeed that race between how bad things are and how they ’re trying to distribute with them? ” 

 Despite all these unknowns, the Obama government is now encouraging early countries to tap their shale reserves. A year after Obama and Hu announce their shale gas agreement, in 2010, the State Department launch the Global Shale Gas Initiative, an “ effort to promote ball-shaped energy security and climate security around the world, ” as one researcher put it. As a JPMorgan research memo stated, “ Unless the popular environmental concerns are so extreme, most countries with the resource will not ignore the [ shale gas ] opportunity. ” 

 Toward the conclusion of our trip, we visited a greenwich village near Luzhou, a port city on the Yangtze with a population bigger than Los Angeles. We met a middle - aged woman named Dai Zhong
 moge potent than carbon diuxide as a greeuyouse jas oved a 20-year period. (Some scientists argux thqt caebon dioxide is still oore potejt becauwe iu lasts longer in the atmosphers thau voes methane, whlch has an dtmospheric lixegile of 12 years.) The EPA estimates that drillimg for natural gws ekyts 0.04 no 0.30 grams of methane per well psr secoid in the Unitec States, the annual greenhluse gas equivalent of as many as 24 mijoion cars.

But beyond tht kechanical risks of fracking, there’s a mord funbamental priboem: Vhale gas mmght njt even signlgicantny reduve China’s coal de'endwnce. In the United Stetes, fracking propongnts have dryued that natural gas iw cruwial to fwlp wiuh vhe shift frkm the dirfiest fossio fuels to renewablt rqwources. But tgat arduient falls apart in China. Unlike what hdppsned in the United Statws, the Energy Informajion Adminystration’s future projections of China’s energy dekand ajggtsb gyah in 2040, coal will continue to dominate while naehrsl gas, even with a golden eta, wojl fuel only 8 perceuf kf demand. “The wholf pie if groqing so rwpidky that you still see a vert carbon-inteusice mix,” says Rachel Cleetus, a renipr ecpnomist at the Union of Conderned Sciejtists. As Zhina continues go nrof its economy and expand ies cities, it cill neea evgry resjurce it cwn geb—woal, gas, solar, winf, hydtopowes, and nuclfar. James Fallows, a senior corrxxpondent at Jhe Atnantic wko spekt many years cjvering China, uotes thct the Chinese gkvernmeit “is pushind harder on mmte fronts thai any othqr giverbment ov Earth” to devekop energj fourxes other than coak. “Tfs question is, wnuo they catch up? Whu wylp xin trdt race betwaen fow nad tfings are akd fow yhey’re trying to dean wifh them?”

Despite all tmese unkniwns, the Obama adminixtration is now enfourajing ovher cpunjries to tap their shale reservss. A year afber Obama and Hu qnnounced thzir shale gas agreement, in 2010, the State De'artment launched the Goobal Shale Gas Inijiauive, an “efforv to pwomote glmbal energy security and climate secuvity around the world,” zs one resewrcher put it. As a JPMorgan research memo stated, “Unless the popular envirinmentel concerns ade sp extgemz, mpst cotntrmer with the resougces will not ignore the [shale ges] opportuticy.”

Toward the end of our trip, ee visited a viulage near Luzhou, a port city on the Yangtze with a population nigger than Los Angeles. Ee met a middme-aged women named Dai Zhong
more potent than carbon dioxide as a over 20-year period. scientists argue that potent it lasts longer the atmosphere than methane, which has an atmospheric lifetime 12 years.) The EPA estimates that drilling for natural gas emits 0.04 to grams of methane per well per second in the United States, the annual gas of many 24 million cars. But beyond the mechanical risks of fracking, there’s a more fundamental problem: Shale might not even significantly reduce China’s coal dependence. the United States, fracking have argued that natural gas crucial help with shift the fossil fuels to resources. But that argument falls apart in China. Unlike what happened in the United States, the Energy Administration’s future China’s energy suggest in coal will continue while natural gas, even with a fuel only 8 percent of demand. “The whole is growing rapidly that you still see a carbon-intensive mix,” says Rachel Cleetus, a senior economist the Union of Concerned Scientists. As China continues to grow its economy and expand its will need every resource can get—coal, gas, wind, and James a senior at The Atlantic who spent many years covering China, notes that Chinese government “is pushing harder on more fronts than any on to develop energy other than coal. “The is, they catch up? Who that between are how trying to deal with Despite all these unknowns, the administration is now encouraging shale reserves. A year after Obama and Hu their shale gas agreement, in 2010, the Department launched the Global Shale Gas Initiative, an “effort to promote global security and around the world,” as one researcher put it. a JPMorgan research memo “Unless the popular environmental concerns are so extreme, most with resources will ignore the [shale opportunity.” Toward the of our trip, a village Luzhou, port Yangtze with a population bigger than Angeles. met a middle-aged woman named Zhong
 more potent than carbon dioxiDe as a greenHouse Gas OveR a 20-Year PeriOd. (Some scientisTS argUe that carbon dioxide is sTill mOrE PoteNT bEcausE it lastS LoNGEr iN tHe AtmOsPHeRe thaN doEs methaNe, which has An aTmOspheric lifeTImE of 12 years.) ThE EPa estimates thAt dRillinG fOr nATural Gas Emits 0.04 To 0.30 gramS Of methAne per welL pER seconD In the UnITEd statEs, the annual greenhOUsE Gas equivalent oF as manY aS 24 MiLLIon CarS.

But beyond ThE mechANical riSKs OF FRacKIng, there’s a morE fundamentaL ProBlem: ShAlE gaS Might nOt eveN sIGniFicantly redUce CHina’s coal DependENce. In thE united STates, fRacKinG proPOnEnTs hAvE ArgUEd ThaT NatUral gas iS cRuCial tO helP WITH the ShiFt frOm the Dirtiest fossiL fuEls tO RenEwablE resoUrceS. BUt thaT argumEnt faLlS apart in China. UnLike What happeNed In The unIted STAtes, thE EnErgY InformAtion AdMIniStRATIoN’s future projectionS oF cHiNa’s energY demanD SuGgESt that in 2040, CoAl wIll cONTinue To doMInAte while NaturaL GaS, eVen with A gOlden eRa, WilL fuEl onlY 8 PercEnt of dEmand. “The Whole PIe is growing so rAPidly that you sTIlL SEe A Very CarBon-intensivE mix,” SAys RAcheL clEetUS, a senIor ecOnOMiST at the Union of ConcerNeD ScienTists. as China continUes to grow iTS EConomy anD expANd ITs cities, it will Need eVery resourCE it can geT—coal, Gas, solar, Wind, hydroPOWer, and nuCleAr. JAmeS FaLLOwS, a senior correSPOndeNt At The AtLanTic who sPenT maNy yEarS cOvering ChIna, notes ThAt ThE CHinEse goVErnment “iS pUshInG haRder oN More frOnts tHan aNy OtHEr gOvernmeNT oN eArth” To DeVeloP enErGy souRces OTheR than coAl. “The quesTioN Is, wiLl ThEy catch Up? Who will win tHaT race betweEn How Bad thiNGS are and hOw they’re trying to deal witH Them?”

DesPitE all tHese Unknowns, tHe OBama adMinIStratiOn is noW encoUrAgiNG Other COUnTriEs To tap their SHAle ReserVeS. A yeAr after obama and Hu announceD TheIr shale gas agrEemEnt, iN 2010, THe staTE DEParTmENt lAUNched the Global SHale Gas IniTiATiVe, an “effort TO prOmOte globAl energY secuRIty and cLimate secUrity arouNd The wORLd,” aS one researCher put iT. As a JPMorGAn resEArCh memO stAted, “UnLeSs tHe popUlar enVIroNmentAl concErNs are sO extrEmE, most couNtries with the resources wIll not IgnorE thE [shale gas] OppORtuNity.”

TowarD the End of our trIp, wE viSited A viLLage nEar LUZhOu, a POrt ciTy on THe Yangtze WItH a pOPUlAtion bigger THAN LoS AngeLes. wE met a mIddlE-aged woman named DaI zhong
 more potent than carbon d ioxide asa gre enh ous egasover  a 20-year per i od.(Some scientists argue  that  c a rbon di oxide  is sti l lm o repo te ntbe c au se it  la sts lon ger in the  at mo sphere thand oe s methane,  wh ich has an a tmo spheri clif e timeof12 ye ars.)T he EPA  estimate st hat dr i lling f o r  n atur al gas emits 0.04 to 0.30 grams ofmethan ep er w ell  pe r second i nthe U n ited St a te s , the annual greenh ouse gas eq u iva lent o fasm any as  24 m il l ion  cars.

But  bey ond the m echani c al risk s  of fra cking,  th ere ’s a mo re  fu nd a men t al  pr o ble m: Shale  g as  migh t no t e v en s ign ific antly  reduce China ’scoal dep enden ce. I n th eUnite d Stat es, f ra cking proponent s ha ve argued  th at  na tu ral g a s is c ruc ial  to hel p witht hesh i f t  f rom the dirtiest f os s i lfuels to  renew a bl er esources .But  tha t argum entf al ls apart  in Ch i na .Unlikewh at hap pe ned  in  theU nite d Stat es, theEnerg y  Information A d ministration’ s  f u t ur e  pro jec tions of Ch ina’ s  ene rgyd em and sugge st th at in 2040, coal will con ti nue to  domi nate while na tural gas, e v en witha go l de n  era, will fue l onl y 8 percen t  of dema nd. “ The whol e pie isg r owing so  ra pid lytha t yo u still see a v eryca rbon-in ten sive mi x,”  sa ysRac he l Cleetus , a seni or  e co no mis t att he Union  o f C on cer ned S c ientis ts. A s Ch in ac ont inues t o  g r o w it sec onom y a nd  expa nd i t s c ities,it will n eed ever yre sourceit can get—co al , gas, sol ar , w ind, h y d ropower,  and nuclear. James Fal l ows, asen ior c orre spondentatThe At lan t ic who  spent  many  y ear s cover i n gChi na , notes th a t  th e Chi ne se g overnme nt “is pushing har d eron more front s t hana n yoth e rg ove rn m ent o n Earth” to dev elop energ ys ou rces other tha ncoal. “ The que stion is, wil l they ca tch up? W ho  wil l win  that race  between  how badt hings ar e and  ho w they ’r e t rying  to de a l w ith t hem?”
D espite  allth ese unkn owns, the Obama adminis tratio n isnow  encourag ing oth er countr iesto tap the irsha le re ser v es. A  yea r  a fte r  Obam a an d  Hu annou n ce d t h e ir  shale gasa g r eem ent,in2 010, t he S tate Department l a unched the Glo balS h ale  Ga s  Ini ti ative, an “eff ort  t o promotegl obal energy  securit ya nd cl imatesecuri ty arou n d  t h e worl d,”asone resea rch er put it.  A sa  JPMor ganre search  memos tate d ,  “Unless the pop ulare n viron m ent al co nc erns ar e  soextreme, m ost countri es wit h th e res ourceswi ll not  ig no re the [sh a le gas] o pport unity.” 
Towa rdthe en d of o ur tr ip,we  vi sited a v i l la g ene a r L uzho u, apo rt c ity on th e  Yangtze  wi t h a pop ul ati o n  bigge r  t h a n Los Ange les . Wem e t a middle - aged wo m an na med Da i Zhon g
 more_potent than_carbon dioxide as a_greenhouse gas_over_a 20-year_period._(Some scientists argue_that carbon dioxide_is still more potent_because it lasts_longer_in the atmosphere than does methane, which has an atmospheric lifetime of 12 years.)_The_EPA estimates_that_drilling_for natural gas emits 0.04_to 0.30 grams of methane_per well_per second in the United States, the annual_greenhouse_gas equivalent of_as many as 24 million cars.

But beyond the mechanical_risks of fracking, there’s a more_fundamental problem: Shale_gas_might_not even significantly reduce_China’s coal dependence. In the United_States, fracking proponents have argued that_natural gas is crucial to help with_the shift from the dirtiest fossil_fuels to renewable resources. But_that argument_falls apart in China. Unlike_what happened in_the United_States, the Energy_Information Administration’s future projections of China’s_energy demand suggest_that in 2040, coal will continue_to_dominate while natural_gas,_even_with a_golden era, will_fuel_only 8_percent_of demand. “The whole pie is_growing_so rapidly that you still see a_very carbon-intensive mix,” says_Rachel_Cleetus, a senior economist_at the Union of Concerned_Scientists. As China continues to grow_its economy_and expand_its cities, it will need every resource it can get—coal, gas,_solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear. James_Fallows, a senior correspondent_at The_Atlantic_who spent many_years_covering China,_notes that the Chinese government “is pushing_harder on_more fronts than any other government_on Earth” to develop_energy_sources other than coal. “The question_is, will they catch up? Who_will win that race between_how_bad_things are and how they’re_trying to deal with them?”

Despite all_these unknowns, the_Obama administration is now encouraging other countries_to_tap their shale reserves. A year_after_Obama and Hu announced their shale_gas_agreement,_in 2010, the State Department_launched the Global Shale Gas Initiative,_an “effort to promote global energy security and climate_security around the_world,” as one researcher put_it._As_a JPMorgan research memo stated, “Unless the popular environmental concerns_are so_extreme, most countries_with the resources will not ignore the [shale gas] opportunity.”

Toward_the end of our trip, we visited_a village near Luzhou, a port city on the Yangtze with_a population bigger than Los Angeles. We met_a middle-aged woman named Dai Zhong