Emission inventory and trends of NO x for China, 2000-2020

The rapid growth of NO (x) emissions in China is mainly due to intensive fossil fuel consumption. In order to control NO (x) emissions, a multiyear NO (x) emission inventory was established by a bottom-up approach for the period 2000-2010. The results showed that NOx emissions increased by 2.1 times from 11.81 million tons (Mt) in 2000 to 24.33 Mt in 2010. We found that NO (x) emissions had exceeded SO2 emissions in 2009 by comparison with their emission trends. We also found that the unbalanced NO (x) emissions in Eastern China and Western China are mainly due to the different gross regional product and industrial structure. Accounting for 70% of total energy consumption in China, coal is the largest NO (x) emission source among all the fossil fuels. In addition, the increased use of diesel and gasoline has spurred the increase of NO (x) emissions from the transportation sector. Manufacturing, electricity production, and transportation together composed about 90% of the national NO (x) emissions. Meanwhile, energy consumption and NO (x) emissions in China are predicted to be 3908.5 Mt standard coal equivalent (SCE) and 19.7 Mt in 2020 with this scenario analysis, respectively. To achieve a desired NO (x) reduction target, China should take strict measures to control NO (x) emissions, such as improvement in reduction technology, promulgation of new emission standards, and joint control by various Chinese provinces.