Public memory sure. Academic memory holds grudges a long time.

Why assume that they won't experience long term reputational damage?

Think this is exactly the reason. If China is doing it, it can't be worth doing, they think.

(complimentary) ?

Eh, he had academic parents I believe, he himself is an academic manqué, and is clearly still kind of resentful of that

"but Rambler you are neither Irish in Space nor an air traffic controller" shut up

As far as I can tell, the main renewables advantage for developing countries is when something like distributed solar just becomes much cheaper than (not already built) alternatives, e.g. a giant dam project + transmission lines.

The average age of American cars is not rising one year per year, and I'll happily bet it's a lot lower than the number for Cameroon.

Well... poorer countries have the infrastructure replacement problem as well; everyone has a gas distribution system, not everyone has a good power grid. And new EVs are competing with our discarded ICE vehicles (since we *do* replace ours), since many of these countries mostly buy used.

No true Scotsman? In this economy?