China failed to meet its 2024 carbon emissions reduction target, raising concerns about its ability to achieve carbon neutrality and its impact on global climate efforts. The country’s carbon intensity—emissions per unit of GDP—fell by 3.4 per cent, short of the 3.9 per cent target set by Beijing, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
This shortfall puts China behind its goal of cutting carbon intensity by 18 per cent between 2020 and 2025.
As the world’s top carbon emitter, responsible for 30 per cent of global emissions, and the leading investor in renewable energy, China’s progress is crucial to keeping global temperature rise below the UN’s 1.5°C threshold.
However, 2024 marked the first year where global temperatures exceeded this limit, making China’s emissions trajectory even more significant.
Despite strong economic growth of 5 per cent in 2024, China’s electricity demand surged by 6.8 per cent, leading to a 0.8 per cent rise in carbon emissions. This was partly driven by industrial expansion after the COVID-19 pandemic and record heatwaves that disrupted hydropower production, increasing reliance on coal.
Nevertheless, China has made notable strides in renewable energy. In 2023, wind and solar met 14.5 per cent of its energy demand, with hydropower contributing another 13.4 per cent.
Renewables accounted for 75 per cent of the country’s incremental energy demand growth—an amount comparable to Germany’s total annual consumption. This rapid expansion has been fueled by government policies promoting clean energy and innovation-driven industries, such as solar panels, electric vehicles, and lithium-ion batteries.
Since launching the world’s largest carbon trading market in 2021, China has taken steps toward reducing emissions. However, experts warn that structural reforms, including phasing out coal, remain uncertain.
While China is on track to peak carbon emissions before 2030, Greenpeace East Asia’s Yao Zhe cautions that deeper reforms are needed soon after to achieve long-term carbon neutrality.
China’s new carbon targets for 2026–2030, set to be released later this year, will shape its future climate policies. However, concerns remain that policymakers may delay crucial structural changes until after 2035, potentially slowing global climate progress.
Source: Al Jazeera
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
