New Energy
Top Polluter China’s Shrinking Emissions Put Carbon Peak in Play
- Use of coal for power generation tumbled in second quarter
- Nation’s emissions seen on track to begin decline this year
China accounted for more than 30% of the world’s emissions in 2022.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
China’s carbon dioxide emissions are on track for a first annual decline since 2016, a signal the world’s top polluter may have already peaked its output of greenhouse gases.
Coal use for power generation plunged last month, while oil consumption contracted in the second quarter as renewable energy output and adoption of electric vehicles increases, strengthening expectations the nation’s emissions will contract this year.