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China

Grade CMedium Risk

Eastern Asia · Pop. 1,408,280,000

ND-GAIN Vulnerability: 0.385 (2023)

CO2 per capita

9.23t CO2e

Source: World Bank WDI (2023)

GDP

$18.24T($13.0k/capita)

Source: World Bank (2023)

Renewable electricity

30.6%

↑ +5.0pp (5yr)

Source: Ember (2023)

Vulnerability

0.385ND-GAIN index

Source: ND-GAIN (2023)

Emissions Trajectory

China — CO₂ per capita (2000–2023)

Production-based
03691215200020042008201220162020t CO₂e/capitaParis9.2t

Source: World Bank WDI · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5

China's emissions trajectory reflects ongoing energy transition dynamics. Data sourced from World Bank WDI (2000–2023).

Pre-Paris vs Post-Paris CAGR

Pre-Paris vs Post-Paris Emissions GrowthCO₂ per capita CAGR (%) — 20 countriesPre-Paris (2000–2014)Post-Paris (2015–2023)-4%-3%-2%-1%+1%+2%+3%+4%+5%+6%+7%0%South Korea +1.62%-1.25% KORUnited States -1.74%-1.87% USAGermany -1.48%-2.41% DEUBrazil +2.08%+0.85% BRANigeria +3.92%+2.15% NGABangladesh +6.52%+3.28% BGDChina +7.12%+1.85% CHN-5.27ppDeceleration (post < pre)Acceleration (post > pre)Faded = non-pilotvisualclimate.org

Source: World Bank WDI · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5

Energy Transition

Electricity Generation Mix (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
Donut view
31%65%5%Fossil65%
  • Renewable30.6%
  • Fossil64.8%
  • Nuclear & Other4.6%

Source: Ember Global Electricity Review (2023)

Transition Progress

Renewable Share

30.6%

↑ +5.0pp over 5 years

Fossil Fuel Share

64.8%

Nuclear & Other

4.6%

China's electricity mix: 30.6% renewable, 64.8% fossil, 4.6% nuclear & other (2023).

Economic Decoupling

GDP vs CO₂ Growth

GDP per capitaCO₂ per capita
Decoupling Score: +144.17
30060090012001500200020042008201220162020Index (2000=100)1336319

Source: World Bank WDI (GDP + CO₂ per capita), indexed to 2000=100

China's economic decoupling reflects the relationship between GDP growth and emissions. Chart shows indexed trajectories since 2000. Current decoupling score: +144.17pp/yr (2015–2023).

Climate Vulnerability

Vulnerability vs Readiness (Pilot Countries, 2023)

0.2710.4480.6250.2220.5010.78Vulnerability →Readiness →South KoreaUnited StatesGermanyBrazilNigeriaBangladesh

Source: ND-GAIN Country Index (2023). Lower-left = ideal (low vulnerability, high readiness)

Data Sources

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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