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Do some Chinese companies pollute more than entire nations?

Monday, April 11, 2022
By Jacob Alabab-Moser
YES

Several large corporations generate more carbon emissions than some entire large nations. Emissions from Chinese industrial companies such as Baowu (a steelmaker), Huaneng Power International or China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation are equivalent to or in some cases larger than those from the entire nations of Pakistan, the U.K. or Canada, respectively, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg used data from the companies as well as estimates by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Between 1988 and 2015, 100 privately- and state-owned companies around the world were responsible for 71% of greenhouse gas emissions; 25 of those were responsible for 51% of emissions. Chinese coal companies and ExxonMobil were the highest emitting state-owned and privately owned companies. The Chinese coal producers contributed more than 14% of total emissions over that period.

China, which is currently the world's largest carbon emitter, has pledged to have its emissions peak in 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060.

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