Welcome to the Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index, where Earth.Org examines the policies and actions regarding the environment of every nation on earth. Combining the most respected global indexes on pollution, climate change, policy, energy, oceans, biodiversity we have produced an overall Global Index, which will be updated annually. This is the Global Sustainability Index for China.

As the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter and manufacturing hub, China is in a unique position to change the course of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

In 2019, total greenhouse gas emissions in China were estimated at 13.92 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a rise of 2.6% from the previous year despite a fall in the share of coal in the country’s energy mix. This rise was driven by an increase in energy consumption and greater use of oil and gas. Ironically, while the country is the world’s largest consumer of coal, it is also the largest developer of renewable energy.

With its current policies, China’s emissions are projected to rise until at least 2030, slowing towards the end of the 2020s. However, the country is on track to overachieve its 2030 NDC target based on its current policies; China’s target of 20% share of renewable energy in total energy demand in 2030 would be increased to a minimum of 23% and its emissions reduction target would be strengthened from 60-65% below 2005 levels to 68%.

Hopefully, China will submit a strengthened NDC to the Paris Agreement by this year, although with the COVID-19 pandemic, this is unlikely. 

Global Sustainability index china

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References:
Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index Ranking image description: China Rankings – Policy: 148, Pollution: 120, Climate Change: 30, Oceans: 158, Biodiversity: 53, Energy: 39, Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index Ranking 136.