CHINA has 19% of the world’s population, but consumes
53% of the world's cement
48% of the world's iron ore
47% of the world's coal
…. and the majority of just about every other major commodity.
China is currently the number one producer in the world of wind and solar power but they don’t use it themselves. While they manufacture 80% of the world’s solar panels, they install less than 5% and build a new coal fired power station every week. In one year they turn on more new coal powered electricity than Australia's total output.
In 2010 China produced 11 times more steel than the United States and made and sold 18 million vehicles – a new world record.
China currently has the world’s fastest train and the world’s largest high-speed rail network.
China now possesses the fastest supercomputer on the planet.
China currently controls more than 90% of the total global supply of rare-earth elements.
In the past 15 years, China has moved from 14th place to 2nd place in the world in published scientific research articles.
By the end of March 2011, China had accumulated US$3.04 trillion in foreign currency reserves – the largest global stockpile.
…and there are more pigs in China than in the next 43 pork-producing nations combined.
