China’s carbon emissions have plateaued – or even declined slightly – over the past 21 months, marking a potential turning point for the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter. CO2 fell by about 1% in the last quarter of 2025 and 0.3% over the year, driven by rapid growth in renewables, electrified transport, and reduced demand for cement and steel. Despite rising electricity use, solar, wind, and nuclear output matched consumption, while energy storage capacity expanded to a record 75 GW, helping balance demand. If sustained, this trend could allow China to reach its emissions peak before 2030, a key milestone for global climate goals, though the trajectory will depend on policy choices in the upcoming five-year plan and continued investment in clean energy and ecological projects like tree planting in the Taklamakan Desert.

China’s emissions are flatlining — and may be falling — in critical turning point for biggest emitter, report says | Live Science