China’s emissions increase, add pressure to climate pledges – research

China’s carbon dioxide emissions are set to rise slightly in 2024, further straining its ability to meet a key 2025 climate target, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

Despite advances in renewables and electric vehicles, rising energy demand has widened the gap to achieving an 18 per cent cut in emissions intensity by 2025.

China would need to slash emissions by 6 per cent over 2024-2025 to catch up. However, CREA forecasts a 0.4 per cent increase in emissions next year, driven by a 12.5 per cent rise in CO2 output from the coal-to-chemicals sector.

Progress in reducing emissions has been aided by declines in cement production and slower growth in steel and coal-fired power capacity.

China is preparing new climate pledges for the United Nations, due by February 2025. While it has promised to peak emissions before 2030, experts are urging more ambitious reductions by 2035. Concerns remain over conservative approaches to upcoming targets, CREA analysts said.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama