GreenergyDaily

Feb. 28, 2025

1. China missed a key climate target in 2024 and emissions in the world's second-largest economy rose slightly as coal remained dominant despite record renewable additions, official data showed Friday.

2. The figures mean the world's biggest emitter is off-track on a key commitment under the Paris climate agreement, analysts said.

3. Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said carbon intensity, which measures emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide per unit of GDP, fell 3.4 percent in 2024 -- short of an official goal of 3.9.

4. That also put the country well behind on its goal for an 18-percent reduction from 2020 to 2025.

5. For now, growth in China's carbon-hungry industrial sector is holding back progress towards its climate goals, said Muyi Yang, senior energy analyst for Asia at think tank Ember.

6. "Rapid industrial growth has driven energy demand to increase at a pace that outstrips the buildup of clean energy infrastructure", he told AFP.