China's Q3 2026 emissions drop 3.1% as oil use falls
China's carbon dioxide output declined by 3.1 percent in the third quarter of 2026, the sharpest quarterly fall since the 2022 Covid lockdowns. Coal consumption was down about 3 percent year‑on‑year, while overall oil use slipped 4 percent and transport fuel use dropped 9 percent. The lower demand saved an estimated $9.1 billion on oil and gas imports between March and August, prompting the country to tap into its 1.3‑billion‑barrel crude inventory.
Key facts
- Emissions fell 0.5 percent year‑to‑date, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
- The quarterly reduction is the largest since the 2022 Covid lockdowns.
- Coal use decline measured at 3 percent year‑on‑year.
- Transport oil consumption fell 9 percent year‑on‑year.
- Oil consumption drop of 4 percent contributed to $9.1 billion import savings.
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Why it matters
The cuts lower import costs and greenhouse‑gas emissions.
What changed
First published from Carbon Brief and OilPrice.com