Current Status of Greenhouse Gas Emissions - China - May 2020s

Current Status of Greenhouse Gas Emissions - China - May 2020s

In the 2020s, China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with approximately 11.9 gigatons of CO2 emitted in 2021. This accounts for about 33% of the global total, far exceeding the emissions of the United States and India. China's rapid economic growth and urbanization have continued to drive coal-based energy consumption, with around 60% of total emissions coming from coal. Particularly in industrial regions such as Hebei and Shanxi provinces, large power plants and steel mills are the primary sources of CO2 emissions.

The Chinese government has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and in 2020, it set a mid-term target of peaking CO2 emissions by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement. However, with around 85% of domestic energy consumption still reliant on fossil fuels, the adoption of renewable energy remains a challenge.

On the other hand, China leads the world in the adoption of renewable energy, with its solar power capacity reaching 306 gigawatts in 2021, accounting for 35% of the global total. Additionally, wind power capacity reached 328 gigawatts, becoming a crucial part of the country's energy supply.

Furthermore, the spread of electric vehicles (EVs) is being aggressively promoted, with over 3.4 million EVs sold in 2021, making China the world's largest EV market. The Chinese government has announced plans to ensure that 100% of new car sales are EVs or hybrids by 2035, contributing to emission reductions in the transport sector.

However, the pace of energy transition remains slow, particularly in northern regions where winter electricity demand surges, and new coal-fired power plants are still being built. China's energy plan through 2050 calls for a phased reduction in coal usage, but significant time and investment will be required to fully transition to renewable energy.

Thus, while China has made significant progress in adopting renewable energy and promoting EVs, its coal-dependent economic structure remains a major hurdle in achieving carbon neutrality.