India records slowest rise in carbon emissions in over 20 years: Report

India’s carbon dioxide emissions grew by 0.7 per cent in 2025, marking the slowest annual increase in more than two decades, according to a research analysis, as record clean-energy additions and weak power demand limited the rise in fossil-fuel use.

The increase represents a sharp slowdown compared with growth of 4 per cent to 11 per cent in the preceding four years, excluding the impact of Covid in 2020, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for UK-based climate website Carbon Brief.

Emissions from the power sector fell by 3.8 per cent in 2025 due to clean energy additions and weak electricity demand.

During the year, India added 47 gigawatt (GW) of solar capacity, 6.3 GW of wind, 4 GW of hydropower and 0.6 GW of nuclear power.

Coal-fired power output declined for the first time outside the Covid period since 1973.

Overall carbon dioxide emissions still rose slightly year-on-year in 2025, as increases from steel and cement offset the fall in coal-based power generation.

In comparison, China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell by 0.3 per cent year-on-year in 2025.

(With inputs from Reuters)