climate
Construction crisis and green energy: China’s CO2 emissions are stagnating
No country produces as much carbon dioxide as China. But now a change has begun in the People’s Republic. Can Germany keep up?
China’s emissions of climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2) no longer grew in the past quarter compared to the same period last year. This was due to more green energy and less demand in key economic sectors, according to the Finland-based Center for Energy and Air Purity (Crea), which analyzed figures from the Chinese government and industry.
The authors wrote that the demand for electricity increased during the heat wave in August and September due to the use of air conditioning. Electricity generation from coal increased by 2 percent and that from gas by 13 percent. China still relies heavily on coal power as an energy source and, according to data from the International Energy Agency, produces by far the most CO2 in the world. However, according to Crea, CO2 emissions in steel and cement production fell by 3 percent (13 million tons) and 11 percent (24 million tons) respectively. Lower oil consumption also contributed to the reduction in emissions.
The analysts cited problems in the construction and real estate sector as the reason for the development, as a result of which fewer construction projects were implemented and therefore fewer materials were needed. The experts also explained the two percent decline in oil demand with the trend towards electric cars or liquid gas as fuel for trucks in China.
At the same time, Beijing is relying on solar and wind turbines. In the third quarter, the area produced 44 percent more energy compared to the previous year. Wind turbines therefore generated 24 percent more electricity. In the first nine months of this year, China also added 163 gigawatts of solar energy capacity, according to Crea. The newly installed capacity was about as much as Germany, Spain, Italy and France had in total as of 2023. The Federal Republic is clearly ahead in the group of the four largest EU economies with 81.7 gigawatts. It wants to have reached its expansion target of 215 gigawatts by 2030.
Beijing sticks to schedule for CO2 peak
China wants to have peaked its CO2 emissions by the end of the decade. Because of progress in green energy, observers believe it is possible to reach this goal sooner. But the People’s Republic wants to stick to the schedule. According to Crea, China is also unlikely to achieve its self-imposed target for the electricity mix by 2025.
dpa
Source: Stern
