China's CO2 Emissions Drop for First Time Under Growth Conditions as Clean Energy Surges

In what energy analyst Lauri Myllyvirta called a historic turning point, China's carbon dioxide emissions dropped for the first time under economic growth conditions in 2025, according to a Carbon Brief analysis. Previous drops in China's CO2 output had only occurred during economic downturns or the COVID pandemic.

"Electricity supply from new wind, solar and nuclear capacity was enough to cut coal-power output even as demand surged," Myllyvirta noted. China, currently the world's largest emitter of CO2, is also responsible for 74 percent of all large-scale solar and wind power construction globally.

“Previous drops in China's CO2 output had only occurred during economic downturns or the COVID pandemic.”

The country has pledged to increase its wind and solar capacity another six times by 2035, suggesting that this downward emissions trend could accelerate. The development offers a powerful signal that the world's biggest polluter is genuinely turning a corner on climate change.