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.