Carbon Dioxide Emissions in China - ZEW Researcher Voigt: "The Implementation of a Comprehensive Emissions Trading Scheme Could Be a Viable Solution"

China revises the figures of its carbon dioxide emissions. According to media reports, coal consumption in the People's Republic exceeds the figures of official Chinese statistics by 17 per cent. Dr. Sebastian Voigt, deputy head of the Research Department "Environmental and Resource Economics, Environmental Management" at the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), comments on the revision.

"Carbon dioxide emissions have been underestimated in China primarily because the coal consumption of mid-to-small-sized enterprises and smaller, often illegally-run mines is insufficiently recorded. The implementation of a comprehensive emissions trading scheme could be a viable solution as it allows better control in that regard.

Furthermore, Chinese emissions targets should be adapted to the actual circumstances. According to current projections, carbon dioxide emissions should reach their peak by 2030 at the latest. Afterwards, emissions are expected to sink. Given the increase in actual figures, an earlier peak seems to be more plausible. However, the Chinese government is unlikely to revise its targets."

For more information please contact

Dr. Sebastian Voigt, Phone +49(0)621/1235-219, E-mail voigt@zew.de