Emissions of two highly potent greenhouse gases have significantly risen in China over the past decade, according to a recent study.
Perfluorocarbons, used in manufacturing flat-panel TVs, semiconductors, and produced as by-products in aluminium smelting, are much more effective at trapping heat than CO2. Unlike CO2, which can persist in the atmosphere for up to 200 years, perfluorocarbons can last for thousands of years.
Researchers led by Minde An from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology focused on two specific perfluorocarbons, tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane, with atmospheric lifetimes of 50,000 and 10,000 years respectively. Analyzing atmospheric data from nine Chinese cities between 2011 and 2021, they discovered a 78% increase in emissions of these gases in China. By 2020, China’s emissions accounted for 64-66% of global emissions for tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane. Despite this alarming rise, CO2 still constitutes about 76% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
The surge in emissions from China appears to be primarily from less populated industrial zones in western regions, largely attributed to the aluminium industry. China, the world’s largest producer and exporter of aluminium, reached a record production of 41.5 million tonnes last year.
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With China aiming to achieve “peak carbon” emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, the study suggests that technological advancements and integrating the aluminium industry into carbon markets or national trading schemes could help mitigate these escalating emissions. This is crucial given the sector’s role in producing key components for renewable energy technologies like solar panels, electric vehicles, and wind turbines.
However, balancing efficient production with environmental impact remains a challenge, prompting calls from organizations such as the World Economic Forum for the aluminium industry to take proactive steps in addressing its carbon footprint.