Climate and pollution in China
China鈥檚 contribution to climate change is very high. Each year it produces over a quarter of the world鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from its coal production industry and as a result of rapid urbanization. (Source: Council on Foreign Relations)
The mass expansion in city living and working has also lead to a vast increase of vehicles on the roads. In 2004, 27 million people owned cars, in 2022 there were approximately 415 million motor vehicles in China. (Source: Ministry of Public Security, China) China is taking steps to address its climate change issues. There are commitments in place for carbon neutrality, renewable energy sources targets and reducing carbon intensity. But the worry effects of climate change are already being seen through the rising sea levels, heavy rainfall, and extreme weather which kills crops and causes loss of life for hundreds of Chinese people, each year. (Source: Council on Foreign Relations)
How much pollution is there in China?
New industries bring higher paid jobs and more money but they can also bring pollution. Many of the cities in China are amongst the most polluted in the world due to factory smoke or car exhaust fumes.
Air pollution levels in China's four largest cities currently exceed the A part of the United Nations that monitors health throughout the world.'s (WHO) safe limits. There are fears over the long-term impact of pollution on the population's health.
What are the impacts of climate change in China?
In October 2021, at least 15 people died in heavy rain and flooding in the northern province of Shanxi. These floods forced more than 120,000 people to relocate to safer places and left thousands of homes destroyed.
Government Minister, Premier Li, said in May 2015 that China must "fight pollution with all its might". Cleaning up the country was to become a priority for China. Several coal-fired power stations which hugely pollute the atmosphere are set to close, billions are to be spent on improving air quality and there is to be a crackdown on polluters.
COP26
During the COP26 summit in Glasgow, China did not sign up to the deal that would help reduce the use of coal in the country. They did not sign up to reduce methane emissions. However, they did agree to help end deforestation and China and the USA agreed to boost climate co-operation over the next decade.