China CO2 emissions fell as Iran war cut oil use, CREA says

China's carbon dioxide emissions fell in the second quarter as the US-Iran war disrupted Middle East oil shipping and reduced Chinese oil use, according to analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

The analysis, published by Carbon Brief, said China's CO2 emissions were down 1 percent in the April-June period. It said oil use fell 9 percent overall and 16 percent in transport, based on assessments of Chinese government data.

CREA said it was the first time a drop in China's emissions had been driven by lower oil consumption. Previous declines were mainly linked to lower coal use.

CREA co-founder and lead analyst Lauri Myllyvyrta told AFP that the disruption had supported China's energy security strategy, including electrification. He said the crisis had accelerated the use of electric fleets in sectors such as construction and mining, and that such changes were likely to last.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted during the US-Iran war, affecting oil shipments to China, the world's second-largest economy and the top importer of crude.

The analysis also said China's emissions rose 2 percent in the first quarter, leaving levels marginally higher across the first half of the year.

China is the world's biggest emitter, responsible for more than 30 percent of global greenhouse gases. Its leaders have pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Chinese authorities said earlier this week that the country's installed solar energy capacity had surpassed coal-fired power capacity for the first time.