Smoke rises from a coal-fired power plant on the Yangtze river in Nantong in eastern China's Jiangsu province. AP
Smoke rises from a coal-fired power plant on the Yangtze river in Nantong in eastern China's Jiangsu province. AP
Smoke rises from a coal-fired power plant on the Yangtze river in Nantong in eastern China's Jiangsu province. AP
Smoke rises from a coal-fired power plant on the Yangtze river in Nantong in eastern China's Jiangsu province. AP

As China makes strides on climate change, new potent emissions emerge


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

China is the world's biggest carbon dioxide emitter, accounting for 31 per cent of the amount generated globally last year.

The country's CO2 emissions from energy and cement production rose about 4 per cent in 2023, helping total worldwide emissions increase by 1.1 per cent to a high of 36.8 billion tonnes of CO2, the Global Carbon Budget initiative reported.

So steps taken by China, which until recently was the world’s most populous nation, are key to long-term efforts to combat climate change.

When it comes to containing emission levels, as China goes, so goes the world.

"What China’s emissions do is responsible for global emissions," said Asher Minns, executive director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia in the UK.

"When China peaks in emissions, that completely influences the peak of global emissions, as it is the highest-emitting country."

Mr Minns said "absolutely much more" needs to be done to limit global emissions if the world is to meet its climate targets and avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Have China’s CO2 emissions already peaked?

The signs so far are that China’s CO2 emissions this year could be lower than those of 2023, according to Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

Numerous factors are at play, notably China’s investments in renewable energy technology such as solar and wind, which have caused the share of China’s energy-generating capacity from fossil fuels to fall.

Analysis published by Carbon Brief indicated that coal generated a record low of 53 per cent of China’s electricity in May, down seven percentage points on a year earlier. The same month, clean energy generated 44 per cent of China’s electricity, the highest-ever figure.

"It's highly likely that China's emissions will fall this year because of the huge amount of clean-energy capacity that has been installed last year and this year," Mr Myllyvirta said.

"We'll continue to see big increases in power generation from clean sources, which will displace the growth in coal-fired power generation.

"There's also the ongoing fall in consumption of oil products aided by the shift to electric vehicles, and the construction sector continues to contract, so the production of steel and cement, the two most highly emitting commodities or industrial products in China, is falling."

In March, China’s monthly year-on-year CO2 emissions fell for the first time since an increase lasting more than a year began after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

Just as China’s emissions from power generation and industry may have peaked last year, so may those of the world as a whole.

Will China’s CO2 drop continue?

Workers inspect solar panels on the rooftop of a power plant in China's Fujian province. AFP
Workers inspect solar panels on the rooftop of a power plant in China's Fujian province. AFP

When it comes to China’s carbon emissions, not all forces are pushing in the same direction, Mr Myllyvirta indicated.

Local governments and many state-owned enterprises in the country were, he said, "very enthusiastically and aggressively" pursuing clean energy projects, even if some regulators were less ambitious.

China’s State Council, the country’s key executive body, is giving "renewed attention" to reducing CO2 emissions, so current trends are likely to continue for at least the next couple of years.

One caveat relates to China’s heavy investment in coal-fired power stations.

The Global Energy Monitor reported in April that China was responsible for 95 per cent of new coal power construction last year, having begun work on 70 gigawatts of capacity.

"China's been building a lot of coal-fired power plants as a back up ... to make sure there's enough generating capacity at times when demand is peaking and output from wind and solar is slow," Mr Myllyvirta said.

"The owners of those power plants of course have an interest in preserving the role of coal in the power system and that's likely to result in pushback against the clean energy growth."

Another key issue is how China’s economy evolves. The country’s economic growth has involved the expansion of energy-intensive industries, causing total energy consumption to increase significantly.

If the economy pivots towards "higher value-added sectors and services" and household consumption, Mr Myllyvirta said, growth in energy consumption may moderate, making it easier to meet increases in demand with clean energy.

Could other greenhouse gases derail China's progress?

Recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research sparked headlines by indicating that China was releasing larger quantities of gases much more powerful than CO2 at causing climate change.

In two studies, scientists found big increases in the release during the 2010s of perfluorocarbons, which have global warming potential that, MIT stated, is "thousands of times that of CO2".

They are also very persistent, remaining in the atmosphere for tens of thousands of years, unlike methane, for example, which lasts only about 10 years.

Emissions of tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane, which are generated during aluminium smelting, jumped 78 per cent, while those of perfluorocyclobutane, created as a by-product in factories that generate a chemical used in non-stick cookware coatings, went up by 70 per cent.

China accounted for the majority of the global increase in the release of these gases, according to MIT.

Mr Myllyvirta said it was "really important" for China to include gases other than CO2 in its future climate targets.

Beijing should also, he said, confirm that the country’s commitment to reach net zero by 2060 covers all greenhouse gases, not only CO2.

"There’s a lot of potential for reducing these emissions in the short term. China can make a lot more progress over the next decade if all of these different gases are covered," Mr Myllyvirta said.

Nonetheless, he said the global warming effect of tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane, while "significant", was relatively modest when compared to China’s other emissions.

"The emissions of those two gases are about 0.5 per cent of China's total," he said.

Even if China’s and the world’s emissions from energy generation and industry have peaked, the planet remains far off achieving a 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, said to be needed if global temperature increases are to be kept within 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels.

Eight countries with net-zero emissions - in pictures

  • Guyana is net zero thanks to dense rainforest cover, despite being a newly oil-producing nation. AFP
    Guyana is net zero thanks to dense rainforest cover, despite being a newly oil-producing nation. AFP
  • Bhutan was the first country to report net-zero emissions. Getty
    Bhutan was the first country to report net-zero emissions. Getty
  • Niue's emissions are negligible, at less than 0.0001 per cent. Photo: Flickr
    Niue's emissions are negligible, at less than 0.0001 per cent. Photo: Flickr
  • Suriname's forests absorb billions of tonnes of CO2. Getty
    Suriname's forests absorb billions of tonnes of CO2. Getty
  • Panama was one of the first three countries to report net-zero emissions. Photo: Flickr
    Panama was one of the first three countries to report net-zero emissions. Photo: Flickr
  • The Comoros government has reported its carbon emissions have been in the negative since at least 2015. AFP
    The Comoros government has reported its carbon emissions have been in the negative since at least 2015. AFP
  • Almost 90 per cent of Gabon's surface is covered by forests, allowing for optimal carbon absorption. Getty
    Almost 90 per cent of Gabon's surface is covered by forests, allowing for optimal carbon absorption. Getty
  • Madagascar may lose its net-zero status if rampant deforestation continues. Photo: Alexandra Laube / imageBROKER / Shutterstock
    Madagascar may lose its net-zero status if rampant deforestation continues. Photo: Alexandra Laube / imageBROKER / Shutterstock
While you're here
Meydan racecard:

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) 1,600m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) | 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

What to watch out for:

Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways

The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof

The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history

Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure

Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WISH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Buck%2C%20Fawn%20Veerasunthorn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ariana%20DeBose%2C%20Chris%20Pine%2C%20Alan%20Tudyk%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WWE Super ShowDown results

Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title

Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship

Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns

Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party

Randy Orton beats Triple H

Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley

Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal

The Undertaker beat Goldberg

 

Anna and the Apocalypse

Director: John McPhail

Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton

Three stars

Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

Scoreline:

Barcelona 2

Suarez 85', Messi 86'

Atletico Madrid 0

Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)

Stage result

1. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3:29.09

2. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto-Soudal

3. Rudy Barbier (FRA) Israel Start-Up Nation

4. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma

5. Luka Mezgec (SLO) Mitchelton-Scott

6. Alberto Dainese (ITA) Sunweb

7. Jakub Mareczko (ITA) CCC

8. Max Walscheid (GER) NTT

9. José Rojas (ESP) Movistar

10. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, all at same time

Updated: July 18, 2024, 4:19 PM