Is China Causing Climate Change? Why Blaming Other Countries Doesn't Work

Rachel Bailleau
May 17
5 min read

Updated: May 27

A few months ago, an acquaintance asked why I’d taken the train from my home in the French mountains to Paris instead of flying. The flight would have been faster and cheaper, she pointed out. She wasn’t wrong. But I told her the truth: "I’m lucky to have the time and the money to take the train, and it comes with a much lower environmental impact."

the tgv is a fast and non polluting way to travel

A short-haul flight can emit up to ten times more CO₂ per passenger than the same journey by train. I was doing my best to reduce my contribution to climate change, knowing that this choice isn't possible for everyone and that my individual choices alone aren't going to "save the world".

Her response caught me off guard. She got visibly upset and said, “It’s pointless. It's all very well us trying to reduce emissions, but just look at the Chinese.”

The implication was clear: as people in other parts of the world, like China, become more comfortable and consume more energy, all individual efforts to cut emissions are meaningless.

This moment stuck with me. The idea that people in Europe should stop trying, stop caring, and stop taking responsibility, because others will supposedly "cancel out" our efforts, seemed unfair and unhelpful. In this article, I want to unpack why that mindset is inaccurate, so we don't let fear of other people interfere with our own choices.

Is China Causing Climate Change? Why it's unfair to blame poorer countries for climate change

You may have heard it before, or maybe even thought it yourself:“What’s the point in trying to fix climate change when countries like China are just going to keep polluting?”

It’s a sentiment rooted in fear and frustration. And those feelings are understandable. The climate crisis is huge and emotionally charged. But this kind of thinking is not only unfair, it’s also untrue, and it can stop us from seeing the bigger picture and taking meaningful action. Let’s break down why this argument doesn’t hold water, and why there’s actually a lot of reason for hope.

1. Let’s Talk About History

If we’re talking about responsibility, we need to look at historic emissions, not just who’s polluting now. The countries that industrialised early (like the UK, the US, and much of Europe) are responsible for the vast majority of cumulative carbon emissions that have built up in the atmosphere since the 1800s.

The United States alone has produced more than a quarter of all global carbon emissions in history.
The entire continent of Africa has contributed less than 4%, despite being home to nearly 20% of the global population.

Blaming today’s emerging economies without acknowledging this context is not just inaccurate, it's unfair.

2. Per Person, the Picture Looks Very Different

It’s also worth looking at emissions per capita (per person), not just per country.

The average American emits about 15 metric tons of CO₂ per year.
The average person in China emits around 7.
In India, it’s less than 2.

So when we point the finger at countries with large populations, we’re often ignoring the fact that many individuals in those countries are still living low-emission lives. Saying we aren't going to reduce our emissions which we know are too high because we think that one day in the future someone who has much lower emissions than us much might start polluting more isn't very logical.

3. Many Countries Are Climate Leaders in Their Own Right

Even if we put aside the inconvenient reality that "Western" economies have polluted and are polluting more than "emerging" economies, it’s simply not true that other nations aren’t doing their part. In fact, countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are often leading in ways the West isn’t. Let's take China as the example, as they tend to end up as the scapegoat.

So, is China causing climate change? No. China is the world’s biggest investor in solar power, electric buses, and green infrastructure. The restoration of the Loess Plateau turned a barren landscape three times larger than the United Kingdom into thriving sustainable farmland and has been studied globally as a model for regeneration.

Progress isn’t perfect anywhere. But many nations are doing far more than they’re often given credit for.

4. Doing the Right Thing Doesn’t Depend on Others

Even if it were true that some countries aren’t doing enough, so what?

If someone else is harming the planet, does that justify us doing the same? Of course not.

Saying, “I won’t reduce my emissions because they won’t reduce theirs” is like saying, “I won’t stop punching people because other people are still punching.” Ethics don’t work like that.

If anything, we need to lead by example and help others do the same, not throw up our hands in despair. (Or more realistically, realise how far we are behind some of the very countries we are scapegoating, and take a moment to follow their leadership!)

5. Everyone Deserves a Good Life

Let’s not forget: people have every right to want a better life with healthcare, housing, transport, and education. The good news is that we've made incredible progress on all these things as a global community. And often, when those basic needs are met, emissions actually go down.

Studies show that as people become more secure and educated, they tend to have fewer children.
Economic development, when done sustainably, can create the conditions for long-term environmental stewardship. It's hard to care about planting trees if you live in extreme poverty, surrounded by violence, and don't know what your kids will eat tonight.
And with today’s technology, countries don’t need to follow the same destructive path the West took. They can leapfrog directly to cleaner, more efficient systems. That means they can use clean energy like solar right from the start, instead of going through fossil fuelled electricity first.

6. We’ve Already Passed Peak Baby

Another thing: we’re not heading for runaway population growth. The global birth rate has been falling for decades. China's birth rate is lower than most of Europe. India, of course, is still having tonnes of babies. Oh no, the birth rate is 2.3 children.

We’ve already passed “peak child”. the number of children being born each year globally has plateaued.
The UN projects that the population will likely stabilise and then decline later this century.

So while population is something to consider, it’s not the runaway threat some imagine. The real issue is how we consume, not simply how many of us there are.

7. It's Okay to Worry. But Let’s Worry Smarter

It’s natural to feel anxious about climate change, and it’s understandable to worry about the scale of the challenge. But turning that worry into blame isn’t productive, and often misses the point.

Yes, we need to hold governments and corporations accountable everywhere. Yes, we need a global effort. But the truth is, solutions already exist, and people everywhere want a safer, healthier planet for their families, communities, and futures. The challenge is real, but so is our capacity to rise to it. Together.

Further Resources

If you'd like to dig deeper into these ideas, there are two books I recommend:

If you need more hope right now, go for "Not the End of the World". If you want to deeply understand climate justice, pick "It's Not That Radical", Check out the books by clicking on the cover pictures!

I hope you found this article helpful! On my homepage, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter for free resources like PDF exercises to help you with eco-anxiety. If you'd like to book some individual online coaching, you can use the links below.

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