Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China
China: Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems was 4.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 22.0%
World rank
34th
of 200 countries
All-time high
6.05 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 1989
Years of data
37
1989–2025
Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China, 1989–2025
Source: Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China is 4.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 22.0% on the previous year and up 1,702.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China peaked at 6.05 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents, in 1989.
China ranks 34th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1990 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1991 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1992 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1993 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1994 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1995 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1996 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1997 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1998 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1999 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2000 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2001 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2002 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2003 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2004 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2005 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2006 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2007 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2008 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2009 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2010 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2011 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2012 | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2013 | 0.4254 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2014 | 0.474 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 2015 | 0.2617 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | -44.8% |
| 2016 | 0.2688 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 0.2657 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2699 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 0.3427 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +27.0% |
| 2020 | 0.3871 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +12.9% |
| 2021 | 3.03 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +683.1% |
| 2022 | 3.82 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +26.0% |
| 2023 | 4.22 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +10.5% |
| 2024 | 6.05 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | +43.2% |
| 2025 | 4.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | -22.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +683.1% | 0.3871 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 3.03 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 1 |
| 1990s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2308 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0.474 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0.3871 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 6.05 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 31 Switzerland 13.47 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 32 Luxembourg 11.35 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 33 South Korea 6.39 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 35 Iceland 2.68 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 36 United States 2.23 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 37 Canada 2.01 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China?
- Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems in China was 4.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in 2025, according to Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 6.05 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
- What is the lowest emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in 1989.
- How does China rank for emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems?
- China ranks 34th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,702.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Emissions-weighted carbon price in emissions trading systems. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.