Sian Crampsie
The decline in coal use in China is accelerating, according to new analysis.
Data shows that coal consumption in the world's second largest economy fell by almost eight per cent and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around five per cent in the first four months of the year compared with the same period in 2014, according to Greenpeace/Energydesk China.
Data for April also shows that coal output in China fell by over seven per cent year-on-year.
If the decline in coal use continues until the end of the year, it would be the largest recorded year-on-year reduction in coal use and CO2 emissions in any country, said Greenpeace, which believes that China's policies are already affecting global emissions.
Early data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest that global emissions of CO2 from the energy sector stalled in 2014, marking the first time in 40 years in which there was a halt or reduction in emissions of the greenhouse gas that was not tied to an economic downturn.
China has tightened environmental protection measures and closed many of its smaller-scale coal fired power plant to improve air quality and reduce emissions.
Electricity consumption growth in the country is also falling due to an economic slowdown.
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