Current Estimates on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China Between 1970 and 2023

Between 1970 and 2023, China’s yearly anthropogenic CO₂ emissions increased from 0.96 to 13.58 Pg. Yearly non-CO₂ greenhouse gases (GHGs) in China increased from 1133.7 Tg CO₂eq in 1970 to 3095.3 Tg CO₂eq in 2023. In terms of weight of the global warming potential over a horizon of 100 years, China’s anthropogenic non-CO₂ GHG emissions, approximately 56.8%, 13.5%, 10.1%, 10.4%, 5.2%, and 3.9% of which were from methane, nitrous oxide, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorinated compounds, and chlorofluorocarbons, respectively, were equal to 23.3% of its anthropogenic CO₂ emissions in 2023. Despite efforts for mitigation, China’s non-CO₂ emissions are projected to keep growing in the foreseeable future due to unreported emissions, continuous industrialization, and global warming. This result shows that merely controlling anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and achieving carbon neutrality are not enough; non-CO₂ GHG emissions also need to be curbed.