China’s Emissions Fell Last Year in First Decline Since 2022
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g4xiv7m7]eqow4i)}dn2qdmi_media_dl_1.png Centre for Research on Energy anArticle content(Bloomberg) — China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell 0.3% in 2025, the first annual decline since Covid-era restrictions in 2022 — and more importantly, a reduction that’s happened even as energy demand growth remains strong. Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe drop, outlined in an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for Carbon Brief, was driven by a fall in emissions across nearly all major sectors including power, where a banner year for renewables drove down coal consumption despite the continued build-out of thermal power stations.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentLast year, China for the first time covered all of its additional power demand growth with carbon-free sources, and added enough energy storage capacity to account for the increase in peak demand, said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst for CREA. That’s created more options to avoid blackouts without resorting to fossil fuels, he said.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentFor terminal data on greenhouse gas emissions, click here.Article contentWhile small, the projected decline — which could be confirmed with analysis of energy consumption data expected to be released later this month — is a notable milestone in China’s efforts to halt the rapid growth in its climate footprint. It also underscores the prospect that wind, solar and batteries — all key exports for China — can support economic expansion in emerging economies without increasing pollution. Article contentEven so, it’s too soon to judge whether China’s carbon emissions, which account for about a third of the global total, have definitively peaked.
President Xi Jinping has only committed to reaching that turning point before 2030, and China continues to pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which means the nation’s emissions could yet rebound, Myllyvirta said. Article contentArticle contentA key signal will come in March, when officials release the country’s next five-year plan. In order to meet 2030 goals set out in the Paris Agreement, China will need to reduce emissions per unit of GDP by 23%, according to Myllyvirta — a large leap in ambition from the 12% reduction the nation has recorded over the past half-decade. Article contentAnother sector to watch is the country’s chemical industry. While emissions fell across power, metals production, cement and transport, there was a large jump from a surge of new plants using coal and oil to produce plastics and other advanced materials. Article contentOn the WireArticle contentOil’s outlook for the rest of this year will depend on whether China keeps scooping up surplus barrels — or whether they pile up elsewhere, according to prominent market-watchers like Pacific Investment Management Co. and Gunvor Group.Article contentThe Shanghai Futures Exchange will prevent certain businesses that hold silver futures for hedging purposes from carrying their contracts through to delivery, in a move that could stem outflows from the exchange’s warehouses during a bout of extreme supply tightness.Article contentChina plans to raise the share of electricity trade to 70% of the nation’s total consumption, according to a Wednesday statement detailing the government strategy for a 2030 unified power market.Article contentThis Week’s DiaryArticle content(All times Beijing)Article contentThursday, Feb. 12:Article contentChina to release Jan. aggregate finance & money supply data by Feb. 14CSIA’s weekly solar wafer price assessmentArticle contentFriday, Feb. 13:Article contentChina’s home prices for Jan., 09:30China’s weekly iron ore port stockpilesSHFE’s weekly commodities inventory, ~15:30Article content(Adds published items and diary section at end of story)Article contentTrending BlackBerry cofounder Michael Lazaridis invests in Vancouver-based AI startup Innovation Trump privately weighs quitting CUSMA trade deal he negotiated Economy How Canada's nation-building push could still get stuck in regulatory limbo Mining Subscriber only. These are the TFSA and RRSP tricks that can make you a fortune Subscriber only Personal Finance The problem of the Toys 'R' Us $36-million gift card mountain Retail & Marketing Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. BlackBerry cofounder Michael Lazaridis invests in Vancouver-based AI startup Innovation Trump privately weighs quitting CUSMA trade deal he negotiated Economy How Canada's nation-building push could still get stuck in regulatory limbo Mining Subscriber only. These are the TFSA and RRSP tricks that can make you a fortune Subscriber only Personal Finance The problem of the Toys 'R' Us $36-million gift card mountain Retail & Marketing