Meghan Hodges
China has been the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide since 2006, and its carbon emissions continue to increase. In 2022, China's carbon dioxide emissions were 12,667,428,430 tons, with coal burning accounting for 79% of these emissions. China's industrial assets are young, with a high energy consumption rate, and it is the world's largest producer and importer of coal. China's carbon emissions are largely influenced by its industrial production, power sector, and coal-to-gas policy, which has improved air quality but also increased gas demand.
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What You'll Learn
- China's carbon emissions in 2022 were 12,667,428,430 tons
- China is the world's largest producer and importer of coal
- China's industrial sector is a major driver of gas demand in Asia Pacific
- China's agricultural sector accounted for 7% of its total greenhouse gas emissions in 2014
- China's electricity generation is heavily reliant on coal, which is the most polluting energy source
China's carbon emissions in 2022 were 12,667,428,430 tons
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, with coal mining and burning contributing significantly to its carbon emissions. In 2022, China's carbon emissions were 12,667,428,430 tons, a slight decrease from the previous year. These emissions are primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels, industrial production, and coal-powered electricity generation. China's large industrial sector, including steel and cement production, is a significant contributor to its carbon footprint.
China's carbon emissions have been a pressing issue, with many of its major cities facing severe air pollution during the 2010s. In recent years, the situation has improved due to various initiatives. China has implemented the National Plan For Tackling Climate Change, which includes prevention, adaptation, scientific study, and public awareness as key components. The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions per unit of GDP, increase the share of non-fossil fuels, and expand forest areas.
China's energy consumption is dominated by coal, which accounted for 64% of its energy mix in 2011. However, the percentage of coal has decreased over time, with a growing focus on renewable energy sources. The expansion of coal use faced a setback during the 2008 financial crisis but rebounded in the following years. In 2014, a "war on pollution" was declared, leading to a five-year action plan on air pollution prevention.
China's carbon emissions are not solely a result of its domestic activities. As a major exporter, the production of goods for international consumption contributes significantly to its carbon footprint. These emissions, known as consumption-based emissions, are often excluded from country-specific carbon emission calculations, which primarily focus on production-based emissions. However, when considering the carbon impact of traded goods, China's carbon footprint is likely to be even higher.
China has recognized the need to transition to low-carbon energy sources and develop supply chains for electric vehicles. While gas is considered a "clean energy" source in China, it still meets a significant portion of its domestic demand through imports. The country is taking steps to improve its air quality and address its carbon emissions, but the scale of the challenge is immense, given its large and industrialized economy.
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China is the world's largest producer and importer of coal
China's large-scale coal production and usage contribute significantly to carbon pollution in the country. Fossil CO2 emissions in China were recorded at 12,667,428,430 tons in 2022, a slight decrease from the previous year. China's industrial assets are very young, with an average age of 10-15 years, and the country produces nearly 60% of the world's steel and cement, as well as 30% of the primary chemicals used to make plastics and fertilisers. These industries are classified as "dual-high" due to their high energy consumption and emissions.
To address carbon pollution, China has taken steps to reduce its reliance on coal. In 2021, the Chinese government closed several small and dirty coal mines, and major coal-producing provinces implemented administrative caps on coal output. China has also shifted towards developing domestic low-carbon energy supplies and promoting electric vehicles to reduce gas and oil imports. Additionally, China has encouraged the development of gas-fired power plants to replace coal power plants in heavily polluted areas.
Despite these efforts, China continues to be the world's largest importer of coal. In 2022, China imported 293 million tonnes of coal, mainly from Indonesia, Australia, and Russia. China's coal imports are driven by rising demand from the steel industry, revitalisation efforts in the real estate sector, and favourable import conditions from neighbouring countries. In 2023, China imported 23.47 million metric tons of coal from Australia, a significant increase from previous years.
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China's industrial sector is a major driver of gas demand in Asia Pacific
China is a major consumer of industrial gases and has a significant impact on the Asia-Pacific region's natural gas market. In 2022, China's fossil CO2 emissions were 12,667,428,430 tons, with an average of 8.89 tons of CO2 emissions per person. China's industrial sector is a key driver of its high energy consumption and emissions. The country produces nearly 60% of the world's steel and cement, as well as 30% of the primary chemicals used in plastics and fertilizers. The steel industry is China's second-largest emitter after electricity generation.
China's industrial sector heavily relies on natural gas for power and heat. The country's gas reserves have grown rapidly and are now only one-third lower than those of the US. China is the leading producer of natural gas in the Asia-Pacific region, with a total production of 207.5 billion cubic meters in 2021. This accounts for about 5.2% of global natural gas production. China's demand for natural gas is expected to increase, and its government is taking initiatives to boost investment in the oil and gas industry.
China's industrial sector is a significant contributor to the country's gas demand, and by extension, the Asia-Pacific region's gas market. The IEA reports that China's industrial sector led the country to account for nearly 30% of the total growth in gas demand in the Asia-Pacific region during the 2020-2024 period. This demand is projected to continue growing, with China's primary energy demand for gas expected to reach 8.1 mboe/d by 2030 and further increase to 10.1 mboe/d by 2035.
China's industrial sector's high energy consumption and emissions have prompted the government to classify certain industries as "dual-high." These include steel, coal power, chemicals, nonferrous metal smelting, and petrochemicals. Local authorities are instructed to tighten approval, pollution control, and monitoring of these high-impact projects.
In summary, China's industrial sector is a major driver of gas demand in the Asia-Pacific region. The country's production and consumption of industrial gases, particularly natural gas, have significant implications for the regional market. China's efforts to balance energy security and pollution control will continue to shape the landscape of the Asia-Pacific natural gas market in the coming years.
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China's agricultural sector accounted for 7% of its total greenhouse gas emissions in 2014
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. In 2022, the country mined 4.56 billion tonnes of coal and imported 293 million tonnes, mainly for energy generation. China's coal use doubled between 2001 and 2005, and while it experienced a brief decline due to the 2008 financial crisis, it quickly recovered. As a result, coal burning, coal mining, and blast furnaces for steel production are significant contributors to China's carbon pollution.
China's agricultural sector, including agricultural production activities, accounted for approximately 7% of its total greenhouse gas emissions in 2014, according to Carbon Brief's analysis of the country's official submission to the UN. This percentage equates to about 830 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (MtCO2e) emitted by the agricultural sector in 2014.
Agricultural activities in China primarily emit methane and nitrous oxide. In 2014, methane emissions from agriculture amounted to 22 million tonnes, representing 40% of the country's total methane emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural land accounted for nearly 80% of total emissions of this gas from the agricultural sector in the same year.
China's agricultural emissions are influenced by its role as a major global producer and consumer of food crops and livestock products. In 2015, oil crops, rice, pork, wheat, mutton, fruit, and milk were the leading contributors to the country's emissions embodied in agricultural products. China's trade of agricultural products, including imports and exports, also contributes to its overall carbon footprint.
While China has implemented measures to reduce emissions, such as promoting eco-cities and increasing export taxes on energy-inefficient industries, its carbon pollution remains a significant concern. In 2022, China's fossil CO2 emissions reached 12,667,428,430 tons, with per capita emissions of 8.89 tons.
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China's electricity generation is heavily reliant on coal, which is the most polluting energy source
China's electricity generation is highly dependent on coal, which is the most polluting energy source. In 2022, China produced and imported vast amounts of coal, with production reaching 4.56 billion tonnes and imports totalling 293 million tonnes, primarily for thermal power generation. This heavy reliance on coal for electricity production has significant environmental implications, as coal-fired power stations generated about 57% of China's electricity in 2020, and this figure remained high at 60% in May 2023.
China's electricity sector is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with coal-fired power stations being a major contributor. The burning of coal releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the dominant greenhouse gas driving climate change. China's CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement production reversed in March 2024, indicating a positive shift. However, the country's overall CO2 emissions remain substantial, with fossil CO2 emissions reaching 12,667,428,430 tons in 2022.
While China has recognised the need to reduce pollution and transition to cleaner energy sources, coal continues to play a significant role in its energy mix. The country has implemented measures such as the "coal-to-gas" policy, which has improved air quality, and has encouraged the development of gas-fired power plants to replace coal power plants in heavily polluted areas. However, gas is still considered a "clean energy" source, and China meets a significant portion of its domestic demand through imports.
China's industrial sector, including steel, cement, and chemical production, is a major consumer of coal, contributing to the country's high emissions. The Chinese government has classified these industries as "dual-high" due to their high energy consumption and emissions. Despite some progress, China's electricity generation remains heavily reliant on coal, and the transition to cleaner energy sources is ongoing.
The shift towards clean energy sources has resulted in a decrease in coal's share of power generation. In May 2024, clean energy sources generated a record-high 44% of China's electricity, pushing coal's share down to 53%. This shift away from coal and towards clean energy sources is a positive step towards reducing China's carbon pollution and mitigating the environmental impact of its electricity generation.
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Frequently asked questions
China produced 12,667,428,430 tons of carbon pollution in 2022.
The main sources of carbon pollution in China are the burning of fossil fuels, industrial production, and coal power. China is the world's largest producer and importer of coal, with coal accounting for roughly 70% of its electricity generation.
China is the world's largest polluter, producing more than twice the carbon emissions of the United States each year. While most countries experienced emission reductions in 2020 due to COVID-19, China was one of the few countries where emissions increased.
China has declared a "war on pollution" and released a five-year action plan on air pollution prevention. China is also developing domestic low-carbon energy supplies and supply chains for electric vehicles, as well as encouraging the development of gas-fired power plants to replace coal power plants in heavily polluted areas.
