Energy-related CO₂ emissions breakdown in China 2022, by sector

 The power sector is the largest source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in China by far, accounting for 57 percent in 2022. Therefore, it is a crucial vector for tackling the green energy transition. However, with the second-largest population globally and a developing economy, reducing carbon emissions is not an easy feat.

Power-hungry economy

China is a manufacturing powerhouse that has a large appetite for power. As the factory of the world, the country produces goods for export and the domestic market, which makes the industrial sector a cornerstone of the Chinese economy, adding significant value to China’s GDP. However, many of the industries are very energy intensive, for instance, the production of chemical products, steel smelting and pressing, and large transport equipment manufacturing. However, since industry is so crucial to China, transformation is both, very difficult, and inevitable.

Green transformation

The Chinese leadership is very much aware of the challenges and necessity of eliminating carbon emissions and has set the country’s development targets accordingly. China's commitment to environmental protection and green technology development was solidified in its 14th Five-Year Plan, the nation's key policy blueprint. Under government directive, China has invested in green energy infrastructure and has become a global leader in the construction of wind and solar power capacity. However, to effectively curb carbon emissions, renewables expansion and emissions reduction must outpace increasing energy demand.