[Source/Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] "The rumors are true! China's greenhouse gas emissions are declining." The Sydney Morning Herald of Australia expressed such a feeling on May 23rd.
This report noticed that China is accelerating its clean energy transformation, with a surge in installed capacity for wind power, photovoltaic power, hydropower, and nuclear power, which is expected to bring the greenhouse gas emissions to a peak earlier. Moreover, China has achieved this while increasing energy demand, which is of great significance to global climate action.
Industry insiders said that just as China is strengthening its leadership in climate issues, the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, betting on oil economy and abandoning clean energy, exacerbating the global predicament and endangering America's future.
Climate scientists who study China's emission data have recently discovered a positive signal. Various signs indicate that China's greenhouse gas emissions may have already stopped growing or even started to decline.
In September 2020, China clearly proposed the goals of "carbon peak by 2030" and "carbon neutrality by 2060".
The report said that if it is true, this will be an extraordinary achievement, as China originally expected to achieve this goal by 2030.
Laurie Myllyvirta, chief analyst at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), said: "This is a hopeful signal!" CREA was founded in Finland in 2019, and is an independent research institution dedicated to revealing trends, causes, health impacts, and solutions related to air pollution.
On May 17, 2025, in Nanning, Guangxi, the 50MW direct current side Xiangxian Town wind power plant in Shanglin County is continuously delivering clean energy, effectively promoting the dual harvest of economic benefits and ecological benefits in the local area. Visual China
In fact, Myllyvirta had already discovered this trend in 2023. He disclosed this situation in a report he wrote for Carbon Brief, a publication specializing in climate science and policy in the UK.
However, the data at that time was not clear: China's emissions may have already reached their peak or may be about to reach it.
Now the evidence is conclusive.
According to Myllyvirta's analysis of new economic and climate data, China's emissions decreased by 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, and by 1% over the past 12 months.
Australian media noticed that in recent years, China has deployed renewable energy technologies at a much faster pace than expected. China has been accelerating the development of new energy facilities such as wind power, photovoltaic power, hydropower, and nuclear power, while achieving economic electrification through measures like promoting electric vehicles, effectively replacing coal and oil use, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
The key lies in the fact that China has achieved this while increasing energy demand. That is why the data is so striking.
"With the increase in China's electricity usage, its emissions are finally starting to decline," Myllyvirta told the Sydney Morning Herald on the 20th. "(China) can reduce emissions while increasing electricity demand above the historical average. This is undoubtedly a historic milestone, demonstrating that China's clean energy construction has achieved scale effects."
Changes occurring in China are affecting the global climate landscape. Myllyvirta said: "There is no doubt that if the downward trend in emissions continues, this will be a major breakthrough in global energy transformation and climate action. China's peak could drive global emissions to fall."
"Whether China's downward trend in emissions will continue largely depends on China's upcoming Paris Climate Commitment and the clean energy targets in its five-year plan; if the current speed of clean energy growth can be maintained, then the prospects are promising," Myllyvirta said.
On August 10, 2023, China Nuclear Power Investment Corporation successfully lifted the core module of the Linglong One reactor of the multi-purpose modular small reactor demonstration project in Hainan, China National Nuclear Corporation. Visual China
The report pointed out that currently, China's policy signals are very positive. Although China's "multiple energy sources coexist" strategy includes new coal power projects, clean energy has taken the lead. New coal-fired power plants not only replace old units but also generally operate at low loads. China is accelerating energy independence to get rid of dependence on imported oil, gas, and coal.
Energy analyst Tim Buckley said that China's move contains strategic considerations. As China expands its regional influence, it needs to avoid risks associated with maritime energy channels and aims to control future technology high points.
"China's path to achieving peak emissions and reduction is clear: rapidly promoting electrification in transportation, industry, and construction sectors, combined with large-scale deployment of clean energy," Myllyvirta analyzed. "The new milestone of clean power generation surpassing the growth of electricity demand proves that China is fully capable of continuous emission reduction without having to wait until the end of this decade to reach the peak."
Just as China is increasing investment in clean energy technology, the U.S. government is constantly reversing course. After Trump took office, he revoked Biden-era clean energy subsidies to support the shale oil industry.
Australian climate scientist Bill Hare warned that the United States betting on the oil economy and abandoning the clean energy race may put its future economy at risk. Trump's administration withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement has made everyone's situation worse globally.
This article is an exclusive piece from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507923854757610047/
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