Construction drives China’s growing CO₂ emissions

The construction of new buildings, power-plants and roads has driven a substantial increase in China’s carbon dioxide emissions growth.

Fast-growing investment in infrastructure has led to the expansion of the Chinese construction industry and, as a result, an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide released per unit of gross domestic product. This increase is a reversion of a long-term trend.

Previous rises in China’s greenhouse gas emissions were driven by rising consumption and exports, but this increase is now being offset by emissions savings from efficiency increases.