China’s water supply infrastructure, essential for urban development, has become a significant source of carbon emissions due to its high electricity consumption. By 2022, carbon emissions from water supply reached 228 million tons of CO2. This increase is largely attributed to the expanding use of energy-intensive water sources such as inter-basin transfers and desalination.
Although clean energy adoption has helped reduce emissions in some sectors, the growing demand for these water sources has counterbalanced those gains. The findings suggest that managing the interconnected challenges of water supply, energy use, and carbon emissions is critical for achieving both water security and climate goals.
**Why this matters**
Understanding the carbon footprint of water supply systems is vital as China continues to urbanize and expand its water infrastructure. Without integrated policies addressing energy consumption in water sourcing and treatment, efforts to lower overall carbon emissions may be undermined. Effective coordination between water resource management and climate strategies is necessary to ensure sustainable development.
Source: NewsData