China’s CO2 Emissions Fell in 2015 Due to Decline in Coal, Boost in Renewables

China’s greenhouse gas emissions fell for the second year in a row in 2015, down 1 to 2 percent, according to a Greenpeace analysis of new data released by China’s National Bureau Statistics. China reduced its coal consumption 3.7 percent in 2015, and installed 32.5 gigawatts (GW) of wind and 18.3 GW of solar power. The country’s recent economic slowdown also helped reduce emissions. China is currently the world’s largest emitter of CO2, responsible for nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. At a UN climate conference in Paris in December, China pledged to peak its emissions by 2030 and boost renewables. “These statistics show that China is on track to far surpass its Paris climate targets,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, a senior campaigner on coal for Greenpeace. “However, the trend is not moving as fast as it could.”