Data on GDP and total energy consumption were taken from the China Statistical Yearbook and the China Energy Statistical Yearbook respectively . CO 2 emissions data were calculated using Eq . ( 1 ) . Fig . 1 describes relative changes in emissions , energy consumption , and GDP in China during the period 1990 - 2012 . As shown in Fig . 1 , the Chinese economy has undergone spectacular economic development , with an annual growth rate of 16.31 % over the past twentytwo years . China 's GDP increased from 1866.7 to 51,894.2 billion Yuan between 1990 and 2012 . Although China has made remarkable developmental progress , it has not yet completed the historical task of industrialization and its development is unbalanced . Thus , China still faces an arduous task in developing its economy , eliminating poverty , and improving the livelihoods of its population . Economic growth can improve living standards , but it can also lead to increases in energy consumption and CO 2 emissions . While the economy prospered , it is worth bearing in mind that China 's total energy consumption jumped from 1311.76 million t in 1990 to 3617.32 million t in 2012 ( Fig . 1 ) . According to our calculations , CO 2 emissions increased from 1.89 billion t in 1990 to 8.02 billion t in 2012 ( Fig . 1 ) . The upper fitting curve in Fig . 2 shows the correlated relationship between economic growth ( the independent variable ) and energy consumption ( the dependent variable ) during the period 1990 - 2012 . The lower curve displays the correlated relationship between economic growth ( the independent variable ) and CO 2 emissions ( the dependent variable ) during the same period . As shown in Fig . 2 , the three variables are strongly correlated ( displaying high R 2 values . ) Fig . 3 displays a scatter plot and distribution overlay of economic growth levels , energy consumption levels , and CO 2 emissions data in the form of a box chart , with the bottom and top of the box representing the 25th and 75th percentiles . Form Fig . 3 , we find CO 2 emissions to be highly concentrated at 5.26 billion t , and mainly dispersed from 3.33 to 6.68 billion t. Energy consumption is mainly distributed between 1300 and 2500 million t , and is concentrated at 1700 million t ( Fig . 3 ) . GDP is distributed from 8440.5 to 26,581.7 billion Yuan , with the most concentrated GDP at 12,033.3 billion Yuan .