China surpasses all developed countries combined in CO2 emissions for the first time in 2019, according to a study by the Rhodium Group. The country emitted over 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent, a unit of measurement for the greenhouse potential of various climate-harming gases. This marks a 25% increase in emissions over the past decade and a tripling since 1990. Despite this, China’s per capita emissions remain below the US at 10.1 tons compared to 17.6 tons. The study highlights the need for urgent action from all countries to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The shift in global emission dynamics, with China overtaking the developed world, underscores the need for swift action to limit global warming to under two degrees Celsius, as agreed upon by nearly 200 countries in the Paris Agreement. However, the study suggests that China’s per capita emissions in 2020 are likely to be higher due to a 1.7% increase in CO2-equivalent emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study attributes the strong increase in emissions to China’s robust economic growth and energy mix, with coal accounting for 60% of the country’s electricity generation.
While China has announced new efforts to combat climate change, including limiting the increase in coal consumption by 2025 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, it continues to build new coal-fired power plants. The study emphasizes that developed countries bear the primary responsibility for climate change, as their greenhouse gases have been accumulating in the atmosphere since 1750. Cumulatively, countries like the US and Germany have contributed significantly more to global warming than China and other recently industrialized nations.
In conclusion, the study highlights the urgent need for all countries to take action to reduce emissions and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. While China’s emissions have surpassed those of all developed countries combined, the responsibility for climate change lies with all nations, particularly those that have contributed the most historically.
