But Hansen adamantly does not believe that efficiency and renewables have a prayer of replacing coal, at least anytime soon. He points to Germany and Japan, two technically advanced nations that lead the world in efforts to find renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. Germany is building more coal plants as it phases out nuclear power, while Japan—which hosted the Kyoto protocol negotiations and pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 6 percent below 1990 levels—has seen its emissions rise to 9 percent above that benchmark.
Ngunit Hansen adamantly ay hindi naniniwala na ang husay at renewables ay may panalangin ng pagpapalit ng karbon, ng hindi bababa sa anumang oras sa lalong madaling panahon. Siya tumuturo sa Germany at Japan, dalawang technically advanced na mga bansa na humahantong sa mundo sa pagsisikap na mahanap nababagong mga alternatibo sa fossil nagbibigay lakas. Alemanya ay pagbuo ng higit pang mga halaman ng karbon habang ito phase out nuclear power, habang Japan-saan naka-host ang Kyoto protocol negosasyon at nangako upang mabawasan nito greenhouse gas emissions sa 6 na porsiyento sa ibaba 1990 antas-ay nakakita emissions nito tumaas hanggang 9 porsiyento sa itaas na benchmark.