China cuts carbon emissions per unit of GDP by half from 2005

China has made great achievements in carbon reduction, with its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2021 plunging by 50.3% from 2005, an official said, according to The Xinhua News Agency reports.

"Last year, the share of coal in China's total energy-consumption mix dropped to 56% from 72.4% in 2005", – Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Zhao Yingmin said at a National Low-carbon Day activity.

Non-fossil energy accounted for about 16.6% of China's total energy consumption in 2021, while the installed capacity of renewable energy accounted for 44.8% of the country's total.

"China also led the world in wind and photovoltaic power generation, with the installed capacity of both exceeding 300 mln kilowatts last year", – Zhao said.

In the same period, China's national carbon market recorded a trading volume of 179 mln tonnes, with the total turnover topping ¥7.66 bln ($1.13 bln).

"China has seen continuous improvements in adapting to climate change and public awareness of low-carbon life", – Zhao said, noting that "the country will make further efforts to coordinate carbon and pollution reduction with land greening and economic development".

The National Low-carbon Day was set up in 2012 to encourage the whole society to participate in green and low-carbon initiatives.