China has made some progress in reducing emissions from energy and industry, thanks in part to a significant growth in solar energy. According to recent official statistics, emissions dropped by 0.3% in 2025, even as total energy consumption rose by 3.5%.
This decline sets the stage for China’s ongoing commitment to renewable energy and clean technologies, especially as it prepares to finalize its five-year plan next week. The share of clean energy in power generation reached 40% in 2025, an increase from 37% the previous year, with solar power now surpassing wind energy. There were also modest gains in hydro and nuclear power sources.
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, took notice of these developments, remarking that “China is moving rapidly to a solar/electric future with very little need for oil or gas” on social media.
However, China still heavily relies on coal. While the share of coal in the total energy mix slightly decreased, overall coal consumption actually rose by 0.1%. Analysts note that this continued use of coal is evident in the chemical sector.
Additionally, demand for fossil fuels dropped in some energy-intensive industries due to reduced cement production linked to ongoing weaknesses in the real estate market. Lauri Myllyvirta, a co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, pointed out that changes in how China defines carbon intensity could allow for some flexibility in emissions as the country aims to meet its climate commitments by 2030.
China has pledged to peak its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2060. Duo Chan, a climate science lecturer at the University of Southampton, commented that the drop in emissions is encouraging, indicating that China’s investment in green energy is starting to show results.
He emphasized that while one year of lower emissions does not resolve the climate crisis, the rapid deployment of renewable energy in China could signal the beginning of a sustained decline in emissions.
Gareth Redmond-King from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit expressed that other major economies should take notice of China’s progress, noting that reaching net zero isn’t just crucial for the environment, but also offers business opportunities.