Bronte Wells
China and the United States are the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, with China being the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, putting more than twice as much into the air each year as the US. In 2019, China's emissions not only surpassed those of the US but also, for the first time, exceeded the emissions of all developed countries combined. China's emissions have tripled over the past three decades, reaching over 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent in 2019, contributing over 27% of total global emissions. The US has also contributed significantly to global emissions, with cumulative emissions of 509 billion tons of carbon dioxide since 1850, almost twice that of China. Both countries are taking steps to address climate change, with China investing heavily in clean energy and renewable power sources, while the US is poised to invest billions in wind, solar, and other non-fossil fuel power sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year China surpassed the US in pollution | 2019 |
| China's emissions in 2019 | 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent |
| US emissions in 2019 | 11% of the global total |
| China's per capita emissions in 2019 | 10.1 tons |
| US per capita emissions | 17.6 tons |
| China's emissions in 1990 | Less than a quarter of developed country emissions |
| China's cumulative emissions since 1850 | 284 billion tons of carbon dioxide |
| US cumulative emissions since 1850 | 509 billion tons |
| China's annual emissions compared to the US | Double |
| China's share of global emissions | 27% |
| US share of global emissions | 11% |
| China's investment in clean energy in 2022 | $546 billion |
| US investment in clean energy in 2022 | $141 billion |
| China's renewable capacity in 2021 | 1,000 gigawatts |
| US renewable capacity in 2021 | 21% of the energy mix |
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What You'll Learn
China's emissions exceeded all developed nations combined in 2019
China's greenhouse gas emissions exceeded those of all developed nations combined in 2019. This was the first time this had happened since national greenhouse gas emissions had been measured. China's emissions not only surpassed those of the US, the world's second-largest emitter at 11% of the global total, but also, for the first time, exceeded the emissions of all developed countries combined. China's emissions reached over 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent in 2019, accounting for more than 27% of total global emissions. This was a significant increase from 1990, when China's emissions were less than a quarter of developed country emissions.
China's per capita emissions in 2019 were 10.1 tons, nearly tripling over the previous two decades. This was just below the average levels across the OECD bloc (10.5 tons/capita) in 2019, but still significantly lower than the US, which had the highest per capita emissions in the world at 17.6 tons/capita. China's large population means that its per capita emissions are lower than those in the developed world. However, China's emissions have been increasing, tripling over the course of two decades.
China's energy consumption is largely driven by its industrial sector, with almost 70% of its energy use attributed to industries such as steel, cement, and petrochemicals. In comparison, the United States' industrial sector accounts for only 20% of its energy consumption, with transportation making up 26%. China's heavy reliance on coal power, with over 1,000 coal plants in operation, has contributed significantly to its high emissions.
Despite being the world's largest polluters, both China and the United States have taken steps to address climate change. China has invested heavily in clean energy, with its renewables capacity surpassing 1,000 gigawatts in 2021. The country has also set a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2060, with a peak no later than 2030. The United States has also made commitments to reduce emissions, with President Biden pledging to slash emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. However, political and legal challenges have created uncertainties in meeting these targets.
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China's per capita emissions are lower than the US
China's emissions surpassed those of all developed countries combined in 2019, according to the Rhodium Group. China's emissions reached over 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent in 2019, contributing over 27% of total global emissions, far exceeding the US, which contributed 11%. However, China's per capita emissions are lower than those in the US. In 2019, China's per capita emissions reached 10.1 tons, nearly tripling over the past two decades. This is just below the average levels across the OECD bloc (10.5 tons/capita) but still significantly lower than the US, which has the highest per capita emissions at 17.6 tons/capita.
China's large population means that its per capita emissions are lower than those of the US. China is home to over 1.4 billion people, while the US has a much smaller population. China's emissions are driven by its large industrial sector, which accounts for almost 70% of its energy consumption, while the US has transitioned to a less energy-intensive service economy. China's energy resource base is coal-intensive, while the US has large oil and gas reserves.
China has argued that as a developing country, it should have more leeway to pollute. However, China has made significant investments in clean energy and renewable power. In 2022, China invested $546 billion in clean energy, while the US invested $141 billion. China's renewables capacity surpassed 1,000 gigawatts in 2021, and wind and solar now exceed 300 gigawatts each. Hydropower accounts for 16% of China's power generation, and nuclear energy provides 5%. China manufactures more solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries than any other nation, and one in four cars sold in China last year was electric.
Both China and the US have committed to reducing their carbon emissions and have announced plans, policies, and programs to meet those commitments. China has vowed to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, with a peak no later than 2030. The US, under the Obama administration, agreed to cut emissions by at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, and President Biden has beefed up that target, promising to slash emissions by 50-52% by the end of the decade. The US is also poised to invest $370 billion over ten years in wind, solar, green hydrogen, nuclear energy, and other non-fossil fuel power under the Inflation Reduction Act.
While China's per capita emissions are lower than those of the US, it is important to note that China's emissions have increased over the years and continue to do so. China's emissions more than tripled over the past three decades, and while the US's per capita emissions have dropped, China's have risen. China's emissions in 2021 were nearly twice as large as those of the US, and China is now the world's second-largest contributor to historical emissions.
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China's energy consumption is used for industry
China surpassed the United States in polluting in 2019. That year, China's emissions exceeded those of all developed countries combined. China's greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were roughly 13 gigatons, or 25% of the global total. China's per capita emissions in 2019 were 10.1 tons, nearly tripling over the past two decades.
China's industrial sector accounts for two-thirds of the country's total energy consumption. In 2019, manufacturing accounted for about 55% of China's total energy consumption, with 59.6% of the manufacturing sector's energy derived from coal. China's energy consumption for industry has contributed significantly to air pollution.
China's energy consumption for industry is largely driven by manufacturing, steel, cement, and petrochemicals. China's manufacturing sector relies heavily on coal, with coal consumption nearly quadrupling from 1.06 billion metric tons in 1990 to 4.02 billion metric tons in 2019. China's coal fleet is highly efficient and ten times larger than its gas-fired fleet.
China has emerged as a global leader in wind and solar energy. In 2019, China's wind-energy generation surged, and the country accounted for 28.4% of global wind-energy production. China is also the leading supplier and consumer of solar energy, with two-thirds of the world's solar production capacity. China's renewables capacity surpassed 1,000 gigawatts in 2021, with wind and solar each exceeding 300 gigawatts.
China is the world's largest consumer of electricity, accounting for a third of global power demand in 2024. Clean energy sources, such as hydropower, wind, and solar, met more than 80% of China's demand growth in 2024. Despite this progress, fossil fuels still provided 62% of China's electricity in 2024, with coal generation reaching a record high. China is on track to significantly increase its renewable electricity capacity by 2030, with solar capacity nearly tripling.
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China is the world's largest exporter of plastic products
China is the world's largest exporter and producer of plastics, accounting for a 32% share of global plastic material production in 2022. The country exported 100.61 billion US dollars worth of plastic materials in 2022, with an export volume of over 14 million metric tons in 2019. China's plastic production averages 60 million tons per year, of which only about 30% is recycled. The country also accounts for nearly one-third of the world's single-use and virgin plastics production.
China's plastic industry has been plagued by pollution issues for decades. Between 2010 and 2016, China imported an average of 8 million tons of plastic from over 90 countries, contributing an additional 10-13% of plastic waste to the country's existing waste management challenges. In 2017, the year before China implemented a strict import ban, the country imported almost 600,000 metric tons of plastic waste.
China's large-scale plastic production and export contribute to its position as one of the most polluting countries globally. In 2019, China's emissions surpassed those of all developed countries combined, including the United States, the world's second-largest emitter. China's emissions have tripled over the past three decades, reaching over 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent in 2019.
While China has invested significantly in clean energy, with $546 billion invested in 2022, and has made strides in renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, its energy resource base remains coal-intensive. China's energy consumption patterns differ from those of the United States, with almost 70% of China's energy consumption fuelling industries such as steel, cement, and petrochemicals, while transportation accounts for only 6% of its carbon emissions.
China's size and population must be considered when comparing per capita emissions, which are significantly lower than those of the United States. China's actions to tackle plastic pollution and reduce overall emissions are significant, and its policies have forced other nations to address their waste management practices and reduce plastic circulation.
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China spent $546 billion on clean energy in 2022
China and the United States are the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters. In 2019, China's emissions surpassed those of all developed countries combined, including the US, which contributed 11% of the global total. China's emissions in 2019 were approximately 14 gigatons, while the US emitted 509 billion tons of carbon dioxide since 1850, nearly double China's emissions.
In 2022, China invested $546 billion in clean energy, including solar and wind energy, electric vehicles, and batteries. This is nearly four times the amount invested by the US, which totaled $141 billion. China's renewables capacity surpassed 1,000 gigawatts in 2021, a significant increase from a decade earlier. Wind, solar, and hydropower account for a substantial portion of China's energy mix, with wind and solar each exceeding 300 gigawatts. One in four cars sold in China in 2021 was an electric vehicle.
China's clean energy investments have important implications for the global transition to a low-carbon economy. Nearly half of the world's low-carbon spending took place in China, according to BloombergNEF. This trend challenges the US's efforts to develop homegrown manufacturing in the clean energy sector. China's investments in clean energy sectors are expected to continue growing, with a projected increase of 50% from 2022 to 2024.
Both China and the US face challenges in reducing their emissions due to historical experiences, traditions, and political considerations. The US has a decentralized approach to developing and enforcing air pollution standards, while China has a more centralized system with better coordination between different levels of government. The US has also faced political and legal obstacles in meeting its carbon reduction targets, with opposition from some states and stakeholders. However, the US is taking steps to address these issues, such as through the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to invest $370 billion over a decade into wind, solar, and other non-fossil fuel sources.
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Frequently asked questions
China's annual emissions surpassed those of the US in 2019.
China's energy resource base is coal-intensive. China also uses a large percentage of its energy to fuel industries such as steel, cement, and petrochemicals.
China spent $546 billion on clean energy in 2022, four times what it invested a decade earlier. China's renewables capacity surpassed 1,000 gigawatts in 2021, with wind and solar each exceeding 300 gigawatts. One in four cars sold in China in 2022 was an electric vehicle.
China is the world's largest producer and exporter of plastic products and a major contributor to marine plastic debris. China also has a high demand for tropical timber, which may be driving illegal logging in other parts of the world. China is also the largest consumer of illegal timber products and the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, with per capita emissions more than twice that of the US.
