China's carbon emissions are now rising faster than before COVID-19 hit, data show, dashing hopes that the pandemic may have set the world's most polluting country on a new emissions trajectory. We compared China's emissions during the first four months of 2019 – before the pandemic – and 2023. Emissions rose by 10 % between the two periods, despite the pandemic and a stagnant economic recovery China. Growth is the driving force behind energy production and industry. Under the Paris Agreement, China committed to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2060. Our analysis suggests that China may struggle to meet these ambitious targets. ( David Stern , Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University , Khalid Ahmed , Australian National University)