Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
China’s Emissions Fell 3.1% as Oil and Coal Use Declined
China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell 3.1% from July to September, the biggest quarterly drop since pandemic lockdowns in 2022.
The decline came as oil use dropped 4% year on year, with more drivers choosing electric cars while the Iran war pushed up fuel costs.
Electric cars made up two in three new passenger vehicles sold in China in September.
Coal-related emissions also fell 3% year on year as wind, solar and nuclear power grew faster than electricity demand.
A slowdown in construction reduced emissions from making steel and concrete.
But China still builds coal plants, even as coal use falls, and its grid cannot carry or absorb all the clean electricity available.
Better transmission infrastructure is needed to move renewable power to where it is needed, while a policy guaranteeing purchases from new coal plants remains an obstacle.
China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell 3.1 percent between July and September, the steepest quarterly decline since the 2022 pandemic lockdowns.
Oil use fell 4 percent year on year, as more drivers switched to electric vehicles amid fuel price increases linked to the Iran war.
Coal emissions fell 3 percent year on year as renewable generation grew faster than electricity demand.
Emissions from steel and concrete production also fell amid a construction slowdown.
China continues to build coal plants, even as coal generation declines and some wind and solar power goes unused.
- Who
- China.
- What
- Carbon dioxide emissions fell 3.1 percent between July and September.
- When
- Between July and September; the year is not stated.
- Where
- China.
- Why
- Growing renewable generation outpaced rising power demand, while oil use fell as drivers shifted to electric vehicles amid fuel price increases linked to the Iran war.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China rejected roughly a quarter of its wind and solar output.
China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell 3.1 percent, the biggest quarterly decline since the 2022 pandemic lockdowns.
Electric cars accounted for two in three new passenger vehicles sold in China.
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- Down 3.1 percent between July and September
- Oil use
- Down 4 percent year on year
- Coal emissions
- Down 3 percent year on year
- Electric cars
- Two in three new passenger vehicles sold in September
- Wind and solar power
- Roughly a quarter of output rejected in the first six months of the year