By Sudarshan Varadhan
SINGAPORE, Jan 27 (Reuters) – India and China have cut emissions from electricity generation by accelerating the use of clean energy, researchers say, offsetting the growing use of coal in the United States and limiting the global growth of pollutants linked to climate change.
Power sector emissions from China and India, the world’s top coal users that accounted for 93% of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the decade to 2024, fell simultaneously for the first time in 52 years, according to a report from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) this month.
“The reduction in emissions in China and India in 2025 is a sign of things to come, as both countries added a record amount of new clean energy generation last year, which was more than enough to meet rising demand,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, chief analyst at CREA, an independent research group registered in Finland.
CHINA, INDIA DROPPED ENERGY EMISSIONS
China’s energy sector emissions fell by 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), or 0.7% per year in 2025, while discharges from Indian utilities fell by 38 million tCO2e, or 4.1%, in the 11 months to the end of November, according to estimates from government statistics E energy based on energy statistics.
That offset an increase of 55.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in annual U.S. emissions after a 13.1% annual increase in coal-fired power output drove U.S. power plant emissions 3.3% higher in 2025, the fastest this century, estimates showed, helping overall in global emissions.
Power plant emissions rose 3.4% in China and 4.4% in India annually on average over the 10 years to 2024, but fell 2.4% in the United States.
COAL OUTLOOK
China’s coal use is expected to gradually decline this decade, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its annual coal report in December, helping emissions from power generation plateau in the coming years.
In India, however, while record increases in renewable energy and marginal growth in energy demand have helped New Delhi curb coal use this year, the IEA expects the country to remain reliant on coal.
“Although coal-fired power generation declines in 2025, a moderate increase in coal consumption for power generation is expected … due to a steady increase in electricity demand,” the IEA said.
In the United States, the agency expects higher costs to reduce demand for coal by 6% in the years to 2030 despite policy incentives from the administration of US President Donald Trump and a reduction in the closure of coal plants.
(Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Florence Tan and Kate Mayberry)