China and India See First Coal Decline in Half a Century as Renewables Surge
TL;DR
China’s coal-fired power fell 1.6% and India’s by 3% last year—the first declines in both since the 1970s—thanks to a record surge in solar and wind that met rising demand. China added over 300 GW of solar and 100 GW of wind, while India added 35 GW solar, 6 GW wind and 3.5 GW hydro. Together they drove more than 90% of the rise in global carbon emissions from 2015 to 2024, so a sustained fall in coal use could help curb global emissions, though weather and demand variability could reverse gains; the IEA cautions coal may stay near peak until 2027 due to gas prices and other pressures.
- Coal power generation falls in China and India for first time since 1970s The Guardian
- Historic moment as coal power falls simultaneously in China and India The Sydney Morning Herald
- Analysis: Coal power drops in China and India for first time in 52 years after clean-energy records Carbon Brief
- India power sector review 2025: Record clean energy deployment drives historic decline in coal generation Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
- Coal-fired power generation sees year-on-year decline for the first time in half a century The Indian Express
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