Have China’s CO2 emissions been overestimated?

China’s carbon emissions from fossil fuels and cement production may have been overestimated by 14%. That’s according to a new report by scientific researchers. Published in the journal Nature it estimates […]

China’s carbon emissions from fossil fuels and cement production may have been overestimated by 14%.

That’s according to a new report by scientific researchers.

Published in the journal Nature it estimates China’s CO2 emissions totalled 2.49 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2013 – 14% less than previously thought.

The authors said the main cause is due to the estimation of emissions in the coal industry. The amount of carbon released by coal was on average 40% lower than what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), they claim.

The report is said to be the first time fuel quality has been taken into consideration when completing emissions estimates in China.

The figures were found by analysing coal supply data from 4,200 coal mines.

It also revealed total energy consumption in China was 10% higher between 2000–2012 than reported by China’s national statistics.

A recent report stated China’s emissions could peak more than five years earlier than expected.

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