China is the world’s leading carbon dioxide emitter and is also the world’s largest energy consumer as a result of high coal consumption. China has increased its energy demand in the last few years, surpassing the US as the largest global energy consumer in 2010. In 2011, China emitted more than 8,700 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. In total, China’s carbon dioxide emissions make up more than 23% of global carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
More about carbon dioxide emissions:
- The burning of coal, natural gas and oil for energy generation purposes in the form of electricity and heat are the largest sources of global carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 26% (in 2004).
- Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have increased 16 times between 1900 and 2008, and by 1.5 times between 1990 and 2008.
- 95% of the world’s transportation relies on petroleum-based fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, which release carbon dioxide into the air.