China says greenhouse gas emissions hit 13 billion tons in 2021

China emitted 13 billion metric tons of climate-warming greenhouse gases in 2021, up 4.3% from a year earlier, it said in its latest official submission to the United Nations, published by state media on Friday.

The figure is the latest official calculation of annual greenhouse emissions by China, by far the world's biggest carbon polluter. The last official estimate covered 2017 and measured total emissions at 11.55 billion tons.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, China is now obliged to submit detailed emissions numbers every two years, as well as progress reports on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

China's first biennial report, formally submitted to the United Nations' climate body at the end of December, showed that annual greenhouse gas emissions - including carbon dioxide, methane and others - rose more than 70% since 2005, driven by surging energy demand. Energy sector-related emissions in 2021 accounted for 11 billion tons, 76.9% of the total.