Beijing (AFP) – China's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions fell in the second quarter due to a drop in its oil consumption, linked to the conflict in the Middle East which disrupts supplies, according to a study published Thursday.
Published on: 09/03/2026 - 2:55 p.m.
Emissions from the world's second largest economy had already declined in the past, but this is the first time that this decline has directly resulted from falling oil consumption, according to a study by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) published by Carbon Brief.
China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, has committed to reaching peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.
CO2 emissions fell by 1% between April and June, with oil consumption falling by 9% in total and by 16% in transport, Crea calculated based on data from the Chinese government.
This situation "has very clearly validated China's energy security strategy, and in particular the role of electrification", Lauri Myllyvyrta, co-founder and principal analyst of Crea, told AFP.
Serious traffic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have seriously affected oil deliveries to China, the largest importer of crude.
More than six months after Iran's conflict with the United States and Israel began, China has overcome these complications more easily than many experts initially expected.
Mr. Myllyvyrta told AFP that the crisis had accelerated the adoption of electric vehicle fleets in China, including in traditionally fuel-intensive sectors such as construction and mining.
“It is very likely that these changes will last over time,” he added.
In the first quarter, however, emissions increased by 2%, he also specified, which translates into a marginal increase over the entire first half.
In the past, emissions reductions in China were mainly due to a reduction in coal consumption rather than oil, notes Crea.
On Tuesday, Chinese authorities announced that the country's installed solar power capacity had, for the first time, surpassed that of coal-fired power plants.
China is experiencing meteoric growth in renewable energy installations, while the share of coal in its energy mix has declined slightly in recent years.
© 2026 AFP
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