By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - China has recorded a "flat or falling" trend in emissions for nearly two years, according to an analysis by Carbon Brief published on Thursday.
The East Asian nation’s carbon dioxide emissions fell by 1% in the final quarter of 2025. The decrease likely ensures a decline of about 0.3% for the year.
Emissions fell in almost all major sectors, including transport, power and building materials. However, the chemical industry saw a 12% increase in emissions.
“This extends a ‘flat or falling’ trend in China’s CO2 emissions that began in March 2024 and has now lasted for nearly two years,” the analysis said.
China is the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, including carbon dioxide.
However, China’s emissions from fossil fuels increased by an estimated 0.1% in 2025.
Solar power output increased by 43% year over year, wind by 14% and nuclear by 8%, while coal generation fell by 1.9%.
China has pledged to cut its carbon intensity — fossil-fuel emissions per unit of gross domestic product — by around 23% over the next five years under the Paris Agreement.
Carbon intensity decreased by 4.7% in 2025 and by 12% during 2020-25, remaining below Beijing’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) target of an 18% reduction.