For the first time in more than half a century, both China and India recorded a drop in power sector emissions in 2025, a shift attributed to the rapid growth of renewable energy that managed to meet rising electricity demand. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reported that the two countries, historically the world’s largest coal consumers, curbed emissions thanks to record additions of clean energy capacity.

China’s power sector emissions fell by around 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, a decline of 0.7%. India saw an even sharper reduction, with emissions dropping by 38 million tonnes, or 4.1%, during the first eleven months of the year, according to estimates compiled by Ember using government data.

These reductions helped balance out a sharp rise in U.S. emissions, which increased by 55.7 million tonnes in 2025. A 13.1% surge in coal-fired electricity generation drove U.S. emissions up by 3.3%, the fastest annual increase in more than two decades. As a result, global power sector emissions overall remained largely flat.

Over the decade to 2024, China’s power plant emissions had grown by an average of 3.4% annually, while India’s rose by 4.4%. The United States, in contrast, saw a 2.4% decline. Together, the three countries account for about 60% of global power sector emissions, which themselves represent roughly 35% of total greenhouse gas output.

Looking ahead, the International Energy Agency expects China’s coal consumption to gradually decline, helping emissions stabilize. India, however, is projected to continue relying heavily on coal despite record renewable additions, as electricity demand keeps rising. In the U.S., coal demand is forecast to fall by 6% by 2030 due to higher costs, even as policy incentives slow the pace of coal plant closures.

This simultaneous decline in emissions from China and India marks a significant turning point, underscoring the growing role of renewable energy in reshaping global power generation trends.