According to Global Carbon Budget 2022, China generates roughly 30% of global emissions, which is higher than the United States, the European Union, and India put together. Beijing is also working to establish itself as a global leader in renewable energy by adding more solar generating capacity than any other country.
However, China's emissions are rising quickly as a result of a ravenous desire for coal used to power its cities and energy-intensive industries like steel, while developed economies are cutting their emissions—albeit too slowly to reach their Paris Agreement targets. During the second quarter of this year, China's emissions increased by 10% year over year, putting it on track to surpass its previous record of 11.47 billion metric tonnes in 2021, according to information gathered by the UK-based website Carbon Brief, which focuses on climate policy.