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China

Eastern Asia1.4B
C

Climate Score

— / 100

StarterMedium Risk

CO\u2082 per capita

9.2t CO\u2082e

World Bank WDI (2023)

GDP

$18.24T($13.0k/capita)

World Bank (2023)

Renewable electricity

30.6%

↑ +5.0pp (5yr)

Ember (2023)

Vulnerability

0.385ND-GAIN index

ND-GAIN (2023)

  • CO₂ at 9.2t per capita — above average by global standards
  • Renewable electricity at 30.6%, up 5.0pp over 5 years
  • Climate vulnerability: medium risk (ND-GAIN 0.385)
03691215200020042008201220162020t CO₂e/capitaParis 20159.2t28% gap

China

0t

CO₂ per capita, 2023

CO₂/capita9.2t
Renewable30.6%
Decoupling+144.17

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Emissions Trajectory

Emissions are shifting. But is it enough?

Pre-Paris (2000-2014)

China's emissions trajectory is being tracked across multiple data sources.

China — CO₂ per capita (2000-2023)

Source: World Bank WDI + OWID Consumption

Production-basedConsumption-based
03691215200020042008201220162020t CO₂e/capitaParis 20159.2t28% gap

Post-Paris Shift

China's emissions trajectory reflects ongoing energy transition dynamics.

Pre-Paris vs Post-Paris CAGR

Key Comparison

Loading comparison data…

Source: World Bank WDI

Sector Breakdown

Waste dominates at 16.7% of total emissions. Power follows at 16.7%. Total: 105548980.95 Gt CO₂e.

Emissions by Sector (2024)

Source: Climate TRACE v7

105548980.95 Gt
Waste17591496825.8 Mt · 16.7%Power17591496825.8 Mt · 16.7%Transportation17591496825.8 Mt · 16.7%Manufacturing17591496825.8 Mt · 16.7%Buildings17591496825.8 Mt · 16.7%Agriculture17591496825.8 Mt · 16.7%

Fossil Fuel Mix

Fossil fuels still make up 64.8% of the electricity mix. In 2023, Coal was the dominant source at 8740.9 Mt CO₂.

Fossil CO₂ by Fuel Type

Source: Our World in Data

CoalOilGasCementFlaring
03000600090001200015000200020042008201220162020Mt CO₂

Energy Transition

The energy transition is underway.

Renewables Progress

30.6% of electricity comes from renewables. That is +5.0pp over 5 years. Fossil fuels still make up 64.8%.

Carbon intensity: 584 gCO₂/kWh.

Electricity Generation Mix (2023)

Source: Ember Global Electricity Review (2023)

China — Energy Flow 2023Electricity generation mix · carbon outputINPUTGRIDOUTPUT65%31%5%Fossil64.8%Renewable30.6%Nuclear4.6%ElectricityCO2 Output64.8%Clean Output35.2%Source: Ember Global Electricity Review 2023 | visualclimate.org

30.6%

Renewable Share

+5.0pp over 5yr

64.8%

Fossil Fuel Share

4.6%

Nuclear & Other

584

gCO₂/kWh

High-carbon

Economic Decoupling

Is GDP growth decoupled from emissions growth?

Decoupling Score

Score: +144.17.

GDP vs CO₂ Growth

Indexed to 2000=100

Decoupling
GDP per capitaCO₂ per capitaCarbon Intensity of GDP
2004006008001000200020042008201220162020Index (2000=100)500319

Source: World Bank WDI + OWID CO₂/GDP

272.8 Gt

Cumulative CO₂

Total since 1850

15.07%

Share of global

Cumulative share since 1850

0.211°C

Warming caused

by this country

Gas Breakdown

CO₂ dominates the warming contribution, followed by methane. N₂O contribution is relatively small. Total warming contribution: 0.211°C.

Temperature Contribution by Gas

Source: Our World in Data

CO₂0.150°C (71%)
CH₄0.051°C (24%)
N₂O0.010°C (5%)

13.93 Gt

Total GHG

All greenhouse gases

9.8

tCO₂e/capita

Total GHG per person

Methane & Nitrous Oxide

Source: Our World in Data

Methane (left axis)Nitrous Oxide (right axis)
040080012001600200002004006008001000200020042008201220162020CH₄ MtN₂O Mt

Climate Vulnerability & Resilience

How prepared is China?

Readiness & Vulnerability

China ranks 10th in climate readiness (score: 0.445). Vulnerability stands at 0.385 — indicating moderate climate exposure.

Vulnerability vs Readiness

Source: ND-GAIN Country Index 2023

0.2830.440.5970.240.4990.758Vulnerability →Readiness →China

Key Takeaways

China at a glance

Emissions

CO₂/capita: 9.2t. Emissions trajectory under review.

Diagnosis

Renewable: 30.6%

Fossil: 64.8%

Decoupling: +144.17.

Outlook

Vulnerability: 0.385. Readiness: 0.445.

Data Sources

All data for China sourced from World Bank WDI, Ember, ND-GAIN, Our World in Data, and Climate TRACE (2000-2023).

Compare with other countries
View detailed source list
WDIWorld Bank World Development Indicators -- CO₂/capita (EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5), GDP/capita, forest area, energy use, PM2.5
EmberEmber Global Electricity Review -- Renewable %, fossil %, carbon intensity (gCO₂/kWh)
ND-GAINNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative -- Vulnerability index, readiness index
OWIDOur World in Data -- Consumption CO₂, fuel breakdown, cumulative CO₂, temperature contribution, methane, N₂O, total GHG
CTRACEClimate TRACE v7 -- Satellite-based sector emissions (power, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, etc.)
View all countries

Data Sources

Derived Indicators — Methodology

Carbon Intensity of GDP (DERIVED.CO2_PER_GDP)

CO₂_per_capita ÷ GDP_per_capita × 1,000

Unit: tCO₂ per $1,000 GDP. Lower = cleaner economy. 2023 range: DEU 0.13 → KOR 0.32.

Decoupling Index (DERIVED.DECOUPLING)

GDP_growth_rate(%) − CO₂_growth_rate(%)

Unit: percentage points. Positive = economy growing faster than emissions.

Energy Transition Momentum (DERIVED.ENERGY_TRANSITION)

RENEWABLE_PCT(t) − RENEWABLE_PCT(t−5)

Unit: pp over 5 years. 2023: DEU +19.2pp, BRA +6.6pp, USA +5.2pp, KOR +4.9pp.

Emissions (3)
IndicatorSourceYears
Carbon intensity of GDPDerived2000–2023
CO2 per capitaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
Decoupling indexDerived2000–2023
Energy (4)
IndicatorSourceYears
Renewable electricity %Ember/OWID2000–2023
Fossil electricity %Ember/OWID2000–2023
Energy use per capitaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
Carbon intensityEmber/OWID2000–2023
Economy (1)
IndicatorSourceYears
GDP per capitaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
Climate Risk (4)
IndicatorSourceYears
PM2.5 air pollutionWorld Bank WDI2000–2020
Forest areaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
ND-GAIN ReadinessND-GAIN2023–2023
ND-GAIN VulnerabilityND-GAIN2023–2023
Derived (46)
IndicatorSourceYears
OWID.CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CUMULATIVE_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TOTAL_GHGOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CUMULATIVE_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.NITROUS_OXIDEOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
SP.POP.TOTLWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_N2OOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CEMENT_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.GHG_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_GHGOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.GAS_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.OIL_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CO2_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CO2_PER_GDPOWID CO22000–2022
OWID.METHANEOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.FLARING_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.METHANE_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TOTAL_GHG_EXCLUDING_LUCFOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.ENERGY_PER_GDPOWID CO22000–2022
OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CH4OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.COAL_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.ENERGY_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CO2_INCLUDING_LUCOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.NITROUS_OXIDE_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
DERIVED.CLIMATE_CLASSVisualClimate derived2023–2023
CTRACE.FOSSIL_FUEL_OPERATIONSClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.EMISSIONS_SCORE2024–2024
REPORT.ENERGY_SCORE2024–2024
REPORT.GRADE2024–2024
CTRACE.BUILDINGSClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.RESILIENCE_SCORE2024–2024
REPORT.RESPONSIBILITY_SCORE2024–2024
CTRACE.WASTEClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.FORESTRY_AND_LAND_USEClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.AGRICULTUREClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.TOTAL_SCORE2024–2024
CTRACE.TRANSPORTATIONClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.TOTALClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.POWERClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.MINERAL_EXTRACTIONClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.MANUFACTURINGClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.ECONOMY_SCORE2024–2024
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