China’s CO2 emissions 9 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2021 first quarter: research

About 70 per cent of the CO2 surge in the first quarter was because of increased coal consumption, CREA lead analyst says

Rhodium Group study shows China’s total 2019 greenhouse gas emissions exceeded those from the whole of the OECD for the first time

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Chinese coal production in the first three months of 2021 rose 16 per cent year on year. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 1:51pm, 21 May 2021Updated: 10:31pm, 21 May 2021

China’s climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions rose 9 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 compared with pre-pandemic levels, driven by a carbon-intensive economic recovery and big increases in steel and cement output, research showed on Thursday.

In the 12 months since China began relaxing Covid-19 lockdowns, total CO2 emissions exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 7 per cent, setting the fastest rate of growth since 2012, according to Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst with the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

China has won praise for massively increasing its renewable energy capacity and for setting targets to bring carbon emissions to a peak by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060.

But about 70 per cent of the CO2 surge in the first quarter was because of increased consumption of coal, Myllyvirta said. Chinese coal production rose 16 per cent year on year in the first three months.

Beijing has vowed to cut coal consumption, its biggest source of carbon emissions, but only after 2025.

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