A new report by the Rhodium Group shows that China’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were higher than the rest of the world combined. Even Greta Thunberg is cross!
Their report said:
“Using our newly updated global emissions data through 2019, we estimate that in 2019, for the first time since national greenhouse gas emissions have been measured, China’s annual emissions exceeded those of all developed countries combined,” the report said. “China’s emissions were less than a quarter of developed country emissions in 1990, but over the past three decades have more than tripled, reaching over 14 gigatons of CO2-equivalent in 2019.”
Based on our newly updated estimates for 2019, global emissions reached 52 gigatons of CO2e in 2019, an 11.4% increase over the past decade. China alone contributed 27% of total global emissions, and the US—the 2nd highest emitter—contributed 11%. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/GXQbAg5Qew
— Rhodium Group (@rhodium_group) May 6, 2021
They the Twitter thread continued.
“In 2019, for the first time, China’s annual emissions exceeded those of all developed countries combined. China’s emissions were less than a quarter of developed country emissions in 1990, but over the past 3 decades have more than tripled, reaching over 14 gigatons of CO2e. 2/5”
The report added:
But China is a large country, home to over 1.4 billion people. To date, China’s size has meant that its per capita emissions have remained considerably lower than those in the developed world. … While China exceeded all developed countries combined in terms of annual emissions and came very close to matching per capita emissions in 2019, China’s history as a major emitter is relatively short compared to developed countries, many of which had more than a century head start.
Chinas emissions grew despite the covid 19 pandemic that struck in 2020:
“Based on preliminary economic and energy data, we estimate that total GHG emissions in China increased 1.7% in 2020, reaching 14,400 million metric tons (MMt) of CO2e,” the report said. “To put that figure in context, we estimate that is the equivalent of the total annual emissions of nearly 180 of the world’s lowest-emitting countries combined.”
Greta Thunberg took to Twitter to slam China for its pollution, saying the communist country needs to cut emissions or it will ruin the world.
“Yes, China is still categorized as a developing nation by WTO, they manufacture a lot of our products and so on. But that’s of course no excuse for ruining future and present living conditions. We can’t solve the climate crisis unless China drastically changes course,” Thunberg tweeted. “As CO2 emissions stay in the atmosphere up to 1,000 years we of course need to look at historic emissions and in context to population and emissions per capita. And developed nation [sic] must lead so others can raise their living standards. As I say all the time.”
