Industrialization, urbanization blamed for rise in emissions

Levels of greenhouse gases in China's atmosphere hit a record high in 2011 because of the rising effect of human activities, authorities have revealed.

Students exercise indoors at a primary school in Jinan, Shandong province, on Monday. The heavy smog that recently descended on the city forced school authorities to move exercises that are usually conducted outdoors, inside. [China Daily]

The annual China Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, released by the China Meteorological Administration on Monday, said carbon dioxide levels measured 392.2 parts per million (ppm) at Waliguan station in Qinghai province, the highest since the station began operation in 1990.

The World Meteorological Organization global atmospheric background station is one of 28 nationwide.

The average carbon dioxide level in 1990 was less than 350 ppm, according to Zhou Lingxi, a professor of atmosphere composition at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences.

The WMO's annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, released in November, estimated that carbon dioxide accounts for 85 percent of radiative forcing, defined by scientists as the difference between radiant energy received by the Earth and energy radiated back to space, which causes global temperature rises.

"Fast industrialization and urbanization have led to a sharp increase in carbon dioxide, and releasing a greenhouse gas report every year is helpful for policymakers in adjusting economic development plans," Zhou said.