Chinese coal use, power sector emissions fell in 2015

China continued to see declining coal consumption in 2015, the government announced on Monday, with analysts saying the reduced reliance on the fuel likely led to a drop in emissions as well. 

Chinese coal consumption was down 3.7 percent in 2015, according to statistics released Monday. The downturn comes after the country used 2.9 percent less coal in 2014, a year after it increased coal usage by 3.7 percent in 2013.

{mosads}The declining use of coal tracks with other energy trends, including the growth of renewable power in the country. Solar capacity increased by 74 percent in China in 2015, with wind increasing by 34 percent. Coal still accounted for 64 percent of the country’s energy consumption, but the share of renewables increased to almost 18 percent, the government said. 

Based on its energy mix, Greenpeace analysts said Monday that China likely cut its power sector carbon emissions by up to 2.3 percent last year. The country saw an emissions decline of 0.8 percent in 2014, Greenpeace said, the first time the country was able to cut its power sector greenhouse gases. 

China has said it will made an effort to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. As part of the Paris climate deal last year, Chinese officials said they would look to reduce power sector emissions by 60 percent by 2020 by slashing its carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fire power plants by 180 metric tons. 

The country is looking to see its overall greenhouse gas emissions peak around 2030 as part of the deal.