Climate change in China

Climate change is having major effects on the Chinese economy, society and the environment.^[1][2] China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, through an energy infrastructure heavily focused on coal. Other industries, such as a burgeoning construction industry and industrial manufacturing, contribute heavily to carbon emissions. However, like other developing countries, on a per-capita basis, China's carbon emissions are considerably less than countries like the United States.^[3] It has also been noted that higher-income countries have outsourced emissions-intensive industries to China.^[4][5] On the basis of cumulative CO₂ emissions measured from 1751 through to 2017, China is responsible for 13% globally and about half of the United States' cumulative emissions.^[6][7] China is now the world's largest polluter and in 2023 recorded its hottest year on record with an average temperature of 10.7 C.^[8]

China is suffering from the negative effects of global warming in agriculture, forestry and water resources, and is expected to continue to see increased impacts. China's government is taking some measures to increase renewable energy, and other decarbonization efforts, vowing to hit peak emissions before 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2060 by adopting "more vigorous policies and measures."^[9] The GHG emissions of China will probably peak in 2025, and by 2030 they will return to 2022 levels. However, such pathway still leads to 3 degree temperature rise.^[10]