Analysis: China’s CO2 emissions fall in Q2 2026 due to plummeting oil use - Carbon Brief
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China’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions fell by 1% in the second quarter of 2026, as oil consumption plummeted amid the strait of Hormuz crisis.

With both sides at the unwinnable stalemate stage, there’s every reason to think the Middle East War could drag on until 2027 or '28. China has long been preparing for the day it might need to get by with restricted oil supplies, hence its prioritization of renewables/EVs on national security grounds.

The knock on effects of this will be to also speed further Chinese EV tech development. This will set up a virtuous cycle where EVs (already superior to combustion cars) get even better, and cheaper, and reduce global oil demand even more.

Analysis: China’s CO2 emissions fall in Q2 2026 due to plummeting oil use