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Environmental issues are intensifying, with climate change and extreme weather risks increasingly and more frequently impacting our daily lives.
1. Transportation emissions are significant: a key area for China's carbon reduction efforts.
Various studies and public data sources consistently indicate that China's transportation sector contributes roughly 10% to over 10% of the country's total CO₂ emissions. For example, one research estimate suggests that in 2019, transportation accounted for approximately 12.42% of China's total CO₂ emissions. Another public report cites International Energy Agency (IEA) data, stating that in 2022, emissions from China's transport sector represented about 10.4% of the national total. While different calculation methods lead to varying percentages, the overarching conclusion is clear: transportation is a major emission source.
2. Extreme heat is becoming more common: both 2024 and 2025 broke records.
According to information from China's meteorological authorities, the national average temperature in 2025 reached 10.9°C, tying with 2024 as the highest on record. Additionally, 2025 saw the highest number of high-temperature days nationwide in recorded history. The summer of 2025 also brought widespread, prolonged heatwaves to central and eastern China. Extreme heat affects health, electricity consumption, labor productivity, and urban operations.
3. Air pollution remains a critical public health issue.
Despite significant improvements in air quality in recent years, authoritative health organizations continue to highlight its substantial health burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution is associated with approximately 2 million deaths in China each year. In some major cities, mobile sources, primarily motor vehicles, continue to be significant local contributors to PM2.5 pollution. This indicates that without transforming the transportation structure, it will be difficult to achieve further substantial reductions in associated health risks.
The combined effects of transportation emissions, air pollution, and extreme heat risks are transforming "environmental problems" into increasingly frequent shocks to our health and daily lives. Without accelerating the transition to low-carbon travel, mitigating these risks will become even more challenging.