# Analysis: China’s quarterly CO2 falls 3% in largest drop since Covid

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/analysis-chinas-quarterly-co2-falls-3-in-largest-drop-since-covid/
- Published: 2026-11-06T00:01:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T00:41:09+00:00
- Original publisher: Carbon Brief
- Original article: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-quarterly-co2-falls-3-in-largest-drop-since-covid
- Topics: Asia, Climate, Science, World

## Key points

- China’s CO2 emissions fell 3.1% in the third quarter.
- It was the biggest quarterly drop since 2022.
- Clean electricity growth outpaced rising power demand.

## Summary

China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell 3.1% year on year in the third quarter of 2026, the largest quarterly drop since the 2022 Covid lockdowns. The decline extends a pattern of flat or falling emissions that began in March 2024, and leaves emissions an estimated 0.5% lower so far this year.

Coal use fell 3% and oil use 4% in the quarter, with lower coal-fired power generation, reduced transport fuel use and slower growth in coal-based chemicals contributing to the drop. Wind, solar and nuclear power produced an additional 110 terawatt hours, more than twice the increase in electricity demand; meanwhile, electric vehicles reached 67% of passenger car sales and 50% of heavy truck sales in September. Future emissions depend on energy demand, clean-power growth, grid access for renewables and the government’s response to slower economic growth.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.