A recent analysis by Carbon Brief reveals that carbon emissions in the Chinese mainland slipped by 1% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, marking a clear shift in the region's emissions trajectory.
Despite a 3.7% rise in electricity demand over the six-month span, power-sector emissions – the top source of greenhouse gases – fell by 3%, thanks to a record buildup of new solar, wind and nuclear facilities.
Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, calls it "the first sign of a structural decline in the Chinese mainland's emissions."
In just six months, the Chinese mainland added a staggering 212 gigawatts of solar capacity – eclipsing the entire U.S. fleet of 178 gigawatts at the end of 2024 – and installed 51 gigawatts of wind power. Solar energy has overtaken hydropower as the leading clean energy source and is poised to surpass wind before year-end.
Analysts now suggest emissions may have already peaked, well ahead of the government's 2030 goal. To fulfill its pledge of carbon neutrality by 2060, the Chinese mainland will need an average annual emissions decline of 3% over the next three decades. Myllyvirta adds that "China needs to get to that 3 percent territory as soon as possible."
For global citizens – from tech entrepreneurs eyeing new green markets to digital nomads scouting sustainable destinations – the Chinese mainland's clean energy surge offers a blueprint for marrying economic growth with climate action.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
