Government curbs rise of net emissions

Land and forests have absorbed huge amounts of carbon dioxide from air

Net emissions of greenhouse gases in China rose between 2010 and 2014, though government actions have helped keep them in check, according to two recent reports from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Greenhouse gases equivalent to about 12.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide were emitted in the country in 2014, but the land and forestry absorbed about 1.1 billion tons, making net emissions about 11.2 billion tons. That was up by 17 percent from 2010, according to a media release from the ministry on Monday.

The two reports - China's Second Biennial Report and Third National Communication on Climate Change - were submitted by the ministry to the secretariat of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in June.

"That China submitted the two new reports simultaneously shows China's proactive action in implementing its obligation as a party to UNFCCC and participating in global climate governance," the ministry said in the release.

Carbon dioxide contributed about 83.5 percent of the emissions, followed by methane with 9.1 percent.

To curb rising emissions of carbon dioxide, China has been reducing the share of fossil fuels in energy consumption.

In 2018, non-fossil fuels represented 14.3 percent of national energy consumption, up from 8.6 percent in 2010.

The target is to hit 20 percent by 2030.

The energy sector is the major contributor to methane emissions in China, accounting for 44.8 percent in 2014, while agricultural production activities were responsible for 40.2 percent of methane emissions, according to Xu Huaqing, director general of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation.

Though the contribution of methane has been shrinking, it is over 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in warming the Earth.

China will limit total coal output to around 3.8 billion tons while promoting methane collection technologies in the oil and gas industry, he said.

The reports also show that the annual average temperature in China has been increasing since the middle of the 20th century.

Average annual precipitation is on the rise as well, though with big differences among regions.

While there has been a marked decrease in extreme cold weather events, more extreme hot weather events and an increasing number of days with extreme precipitation have been recorded.

These trends are expected to continue in most regions, according to the ministry.

The ministry said that the two reports will help promote the country's actions on climate and the transparency of its greenhouse gas emissions.

China will improve its work mechanism to mobilize participation from the government and social sector to fulfill its obligations, it added.