China missed key climate target last year - Official data

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

Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics said carbon intensity, which measures carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP, fell 3.4 per cent in 2024 -- short of an official goal of 3.9.

That also put the country behind its goal of an 18 per cent reduction from 2020 to 2025.

And total carbon emissions continued to increase, the data showed.

Under the Paris Climate Agreement, countries submit action plans every five years detailing how they will contribute to meeting global temperature goals by 2035.

According to its pledges, China must reduce its carbon intensity by more than 65 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.

China remains the biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change but is also a renewable energy powerhouse.

It plans to hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060.

Total energy consumption was up 4.3 per cent over that of 2023, the report said.

Coal, a significant pollutant, provided over half the country's energy, though renewables also saw a sharp jump last year.

Beijing is due to announce details of its 15th Five-Year Plan -- for 2026 to 2030 -- later this year, likely including updated emissions and energy goals.

In February, it was also due to submit new emissions targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under the Paris agreement.

Only a handful of countries have submitted new NDCs so far. - AFP