By Felicia Hom

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke talked with Tsinghua students during his visit to Tsinghua University on May 21.

In a brief opening speech, Locke praised Tsinghua as one of the most prestigious universities not only in China but in the whole world. Moreover, he recognized Tsinghua’s leading role in research and the formation of clean energy technology.

Locke emphasized that global energy consumption and demand will double by the year 2050. The equivalent of opening two new 1000 megawatt power plants every week for thirty years will be needed to sustain this future demand for energy. However, the United States, China and the rest of the world will need to find clean energy alternatives in order to prevent further disastrous climate damage. Locke argued that since the U.S. and China are the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, these two countries have a moral responsibility to answer this future demand with an environmentally friendly method.

With his business delegation and the existing energy technologies of the U.S., Locke believes that there is a win-win situation for both countries. Sino-American collaboration will result in new jobs for both the Chinese and Americans in the clean energy sector. More importantly, the research from institutions such as Tsinghua will be needed to create new clean energy technology. The two countries must exchange research and work together in order to realize this ambitious goal.

In response to student questions, Locke stressed the benefits of collaboration and the continuing need for more research and quality investments. He estimated that within the next ten years, another one billion people will enter the middle class – thus expanding the demand for appliances, cars, and other energy-powered items. This increasing market stands as a great opportunity for Chinese and American companies. Locke expressed the need to use the best quality technology available as climate change is indeed a challenging problem. Superior technology will yield a better return in the long run, as opposed to second-rate technology that may break down in a shorter period of time.

He acknowledged that the U.S. emits more greenhouse gases per capita than any other nation in the world – hence the need for collaboration and change. As China is still developing, China will also produce more greenhouse gases in the future. Thus, both the U.S. and China should take a leading role in combating climate change.

When asked about what was the most important factor in his career’s success, Locke firmly answered that education played a strong role in his life. Education, he remarked, levels the plane. He encouraged the students to exercise their critical thinking skills and have big dreams for the future.

Locke is the first Chinese American Secretary of Commerce and also was the first Chinese American to become a governor of a state in the United States. He expressed that he is proud of his Chinese heritage and that Chinese Americans have the opportunity to break racial barriers in the realm of American politics. In his closing remarks, he spoke of hopes that China and the United States can work together to “reduce our carbon footprint” while also saving the planet from irreversible climate change. This challenge of producing clean energy falls upon the gifted students, researchers, and scientists of Tsinghua and the rest of the world.

Tsinghua University Vice President Yuan Si had a discussion with Mr. Locke prior to the speech.

(Photo by Guo Haijun)