The growth of power generation from renewable sources has played a decisive role in generating a drop in CO2 emissions by China in the first quarter of the year: this is the first time this has happened independently of electricity demand. The latter actually rose significantly, which makes the figure all the more meaningful.

The key factor is the 5.8 per cent drop in emissions from the energy sector

This is explained by an analysis from the Finnish Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), published by Carbon Brief, according to which the Asian giant – which represents, in absolute terms (but not per capita), the country in the world that releases the greatest quantity of greenhouse gases into the Earth's atmosphere – saw its emissions fall by 1.6 per cent in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Furthermore, over the twelve months ending 31 March, a contraction of one percentage point was recorded.

According to the British news website, the "reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the first quarter is due to a 5.8 per cent drop in the energy sector", as "a contraction of 4.7 per cent was recorded in coal and gas production". This occurred while "overall electricity demand grew by 2.5 per cent".

China nonetheless remains behind on its climate targets

It is important to underline, however, that China remains in any case significantly behind the targets it has set itself for 2030, the Crea analysis continues. The Beijing government has promised to reduce its ratio of CO2 emissions to gross domestic product by 65 per cent compared to 2005. On the other hand, despite the enormous growth of solar and wind power, coal – the single most damaging source for the climate – continues to represent a central element in the Asian country's energy mix.

Another aspect worth highlighting is the fact that, as mentioned, this is not the first time China has seen a quarterly drop in emissions. What had never happened before, however, is that this occurred for "structural" reasons rather than being linked to economic conditions (as was the case, for example, during the pandemic). It is also significant that it was the widespread uptake of renewables that steered emissions onto this virtuous trajectory.

Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air @CREACleanAir

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🇨🇳 📰 NEW | Analysis: China's clean power generation growth has now overtaken the current and long-term average growth in electricity demand, pushing down fossil fuel use for the 1st time

carbonbrief.org/analysis-clean…

@laurimyllyvirta w/ @CarbonBrief

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"The growth of clean energy sources now exceeds the average increase, both current and projected over the long term, in electricity demand, helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels," explained Lauri Myllyvirta, an expert at the Finnish Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and author of the analysis, which also highlights the contribution of nuclear power, the use of which nonetheless entails numerous other doubts and risks.

Just weeks ago came the announcement that renewables had overtaken coal

China is the world's largest emitter of CO2 and aims to reach its "peak" (the point beyond which a lasting decline will occur) by 2030, as well as achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions (net zero) by 2060.

At the end of April, the Beijing authorities announced, for the first time, that wind and solar had overtaken coal in terms of installed capacity. This was thanks to a major acceleration https://www.lifegate.it/cina-rinnovabili-carbone that occurred mainly during the current year.