Guardian: "China’s falling emissions amid Iran war spark hope of decarbonisation watershed," by Jonathan Watts.
"China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell by 1% after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, thanks to a sharp reduction in oil consumption + a steady rise in EVs + public transport, analysis shows." Report reinforces hopes that the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter may be nearing a turning point in decarbonising its economy.
"China was able to increase overall transportation...despite cutting oil imports by 32%, according to Q2 energy data reported by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics + analysed for Carbon Brief by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air." The reduction—equivalent to about a million barrels a day—from world’s biggest petro-customer helped to stabilise global oil prices, which nevertheless surged by about 60% in weeks + months after first US airstrikes in late February "
About 2/3 of the fall in imports came from running down, rather than building up, strategic oil stockpiles." Remaining 1/3 was largely covered by a reduction in demand. "The country’s use of oil fell by 9% overall + for transport by 16%." While large numbers of petrol + diesel vehicles stayed off the roads, there was a surge in journeys by electric cars, buses, trains + trucks.
“In a qualitative sense, there’s no question that the transport sector decarbonisation has been accelerated," said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. "It’s a validation of the energy security strategy China has in place...clear that electrification is the winning strategy to insure against these kinds of shocks."
Impressively, Myllyvirta noted this was the first time China’s overall emissions had fallen due to a reduction in oil use rather than in coal consumption.
In fact, coal generation rose during the quarter due to shifting economic incentives + delays in adapting the country’s grid, which caused considerable curtailment or wasting of wind + solar power.
Delay in adapting power gird to the new realities—does that sound like any great power you recognize?
