- This figure from NOAA shows the stark reality of rising emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and Nitrous oxide since 1980. with the huge percentage increase in potent methane emissions clearly evident.
2. China: Washington Post article of December 15 discusses the prospect that China’s carbon emissions may peak in 2024, five years ahead of its 2030 goal. But large cuts will be necessary to meet the long-term goal of net zero by 2060. One estimate is that 3GT of cuts would be required annually. China is expected to announce new targets early in 2025 as required by the Paris agreement. But key will be China’s rate of economic growth and whether it will recover from the relative slowdown. The Post reports that over the past three years China’s growth in electricity consumption has amounted to around the same level as Germany uses in a year. The Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy 2024 indicates that China’s coal consumption represented 53.8% of total primary energy consumption in 2023 and its energy-related co2 emissions amounted to 11.2 GT, an estimated increase of 6.1% over 2022. China in 2023 saw a 6.9% in electricity generation with coal providing 60.8% of the total output of 9456 TWh — over twice that of the United States, the second largest electricity generator.