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We are referring, of course, to China — a country that for many years has been the largest source of CO₂ emissions worldwide, while simultaneously remaining one of the central pillars of the global economy. This is exactly why climate, energy, and policy analysts are now focusing their attention there: whatever happens to China’s emissions has immediate and tangible consequences far beyond its borders.
Over the past months, figures have emerged that would have seemed improbable not long ago. For over a year, China’s CO₂ emissions have been flat or have even edged downward, instead of continuing their previous upward trend. Importantly, this shift cannot be attributed to the pandemic, lockdowns, or an abrupt economic slowdown.
In this article, we look at what has actually happened in China, why it carries global significance, and why clean energy on its own addresses only part of the challenge.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What really happened?
3. The energy transition is only half the puzzle
4. Cork oak: a forest that works for the climate
5. Natural cork as a carbon store, not just a finishing material
6. Summary
7. FAQ
What really happened?
Put simply: since around 2024, China’s CO₂ emissions have stopped increasing and, in many months, have fallen slightly compared with the same period a year earlier. This may signal the beginning of a lasting decline. The situation differs fundamentally from earlier drops in emissions, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, when reductions were driven by lockdowns, reduced output, and limited mobility.
This time, economic growth in China continues and energy demand is still rising, yet the pace of emissions growth has slowed and, in some areas, reversed. The primary driver is the rapid expansion of renewable energy, which is increasingly replacing coal as the main source of new power. Shifts in industry and transport also contribute, but the accelerated rollout of solar, wind, nuclear energy, and energy storage means that a growing share of additional electricity demand is being met without emissions.
Why does China matter to the whole world?
China’s global relevance is difficult to exaggerate. The country is responsible for roughly 30% of worldwide CO₂ emissions — more than all EU member states combined. As a result, even a one-percent change in China’s emissions translates into hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO₂ each year at the global level.
At the same time, China operates at an investment scale seen nowhere else. In a single year, it brings online hundreds of gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity — more than most countries install over an entire decade. The consequences extend far beyond China’s own power system. Large-scale manufacturing of PV panels, turbines, batteries, and renewable components has pushed global technology costs down, accelerating the energy transition in Europe, the United States, and developing economies alike.
For this reason, the current stabilisation and local decline in Chinese emissions is more than a curiosity — it may signal a shift in the global trajectory, provided the trend persists. It demonstrates that the energy transition can succeed even in the world’s most emissions-intensive industrial economy. At the same time, it underlines that if a major portion of the problem is now being addressed through energy, attention must turn to what remains — industry, materials, and the absorption of CO₂ already released.
The energy transition is only half the puzzle
China’s emissions slowdown shows that clean energy delivers results. Wind, solar, and nuclear power can significantly reduce the amount of CO₂ entering the atmosphere, even in a country with immense electricity demand. But this represents only one part of the equation.
The challenge is that emissions are not the whole story. Vast quantities of CO₂ released over decades of fossil fuel use are still present in the atmosphere. Even if the world were to switch entirely to zero-emission energy tomorrow, this “legacy” carbon would continue to shape the climate for many years.
That is why the energy transition alone, although essential, must be complemented by two additional elements:
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removing CO₂ that is already in the atmosphere,
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and changing the materials used to build our homes, cities, and infrastructure.
Materials such as concrete, steel, and plastics account for a substantial share of global emissions today. Even when powered by green energy, their production often remains carbon-intensive. Achieving genuine climate neutrality therefore requires attention not only to energy sources, but also to what we build with and how.
Nature as the missing piece of the climate puzzle
This is where nature becomes essential — not as an abstract concept, but as a practical climate solution. Forests, soils, and ecosystems act as natural CO₂ sinks, operating without complex infrastructure or advanced technology.
Trees store carbon in their biomass, soils retain it in organic matter, and well-managed ecosystems can hold CO₂ for decades or even centuries. Crucially, this can occur alongside economic use when management is long-term and regenerative.
For this reason, effective climate strategies are increasingly understood as a combination of:
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cutting emissions at the source (energy, industry),
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absorbing carbon through nature,
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and using materials that not only emit less, but can also store carbon.
Cork oak: a forest that works for the climate
The cork oak is one of the rare examples of a forest that does not need to be felled to provide raw material. On the contrary, the longer it lives, the more effectively it fulfils its climate role. This is why cork oak forests are increasingly presented as a model for aligning economic use with climate protection.
Cork oak bark is harvested on a regular cycle, typically every 9–12 years, without damaging the tree. Individual oaks can live for 150–200 years, acting as continuous CO₂ sinks throughout their lifespan. After each harvest, the tree accelerates bark regrowth, which increases the rate at which carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere.
In effect, cork oak forests operate as a long-term system for CO₂ absorption. Carbon is stored not only in wood and roots, but especially in the repeatedly regenerated bark. This sets cork oak forests apart from conventional commercial forests, where carbon uptake often ends when trees are cut.
Equally important is the fact that cork oak forests are not economically viable to clear. Their greatest value lies in sustained, long-term use rather than one-off timber extraction. As a result, entire ecosystems — soils, vegetation, and microorganisms — remain intact, preventing stored carbon from being released back into the atmosphere.
The outcome is clear: with each harvest cycle, cork oak forests absorb increasing amounts of CO₂ instead of losing this ability. It is a rare case where economic logic and climate goals reinforce one another — preserving the forest ensures both a steady supply of raw material and an expanding climate benefit.
Natural cork as a carbon store, not just a finishing material
When natural cork is mentioned, it is usually associated with a material that is warm, natural, acoustically effective, or visually appealing. From a climate standpoint, however, its most important feature is less obvious: natural cork functions as a physical store of carbon.
Every natural cork product contains CO₂ previously absorbed by the tree. That carbon remains locked into the material for its entire service life — often several decades. As long as natural cork is part of a wall, floor, or façade, this carbon is kept out of the atmosphere.
This turns the conventional logic of building materials on its head. Concrete, steel, and plastics generate most of their emissions during production, while the finished products offer no climate benefit. Natural cork behaves differently:
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it comes from a renewable resource,
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it does not require cutting down the tree,
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and the finished product effectively extends the forest into the built environment.
In natural cork insulation, flooring, and wall systems, this effect becomes particularly meaningful. Buildings shift from being purely sources of emissions to acting as passive carbon stores. In many cases, natural cork products also have a very low production footprint, and sometimes even a negative balance, where the CO₂ absorbed by the tree exceeds emissions from processing.
In practical terms, choosing natural cork goes beyond aesthetics or performance. It represents a tangible climate action, transforming an interior finishing element into a long-term carbon reservoir. As renewable energy becomes dominant, materials like natural cork may ultimately determine whether construction becomes climate-neutral — or merely less carbon-intensive.
Summary
China’s decline in CO₂ emissions sends a powerful message: the energy transition is beginning to deliver results even where the challenge is greatest. Massive investment in renewables demonstrates that emissions can be reduced without stopping economic growth, reshaping the global outlook and supporting cautious optimism.
At the same time, this case highlights the limits of energy-focused solutions. Even the fastest decarbonisation of electricity will fall short unless we also address materials and the removal of CO₂ already present in the atmosphere. Here, nature plays a central role — not as a supplement, but as a core element of climate strategy.
Cork oak forests and natural cork products illustrate this approach well. They combine emissions reduction with long-term carbon storage, while economic value supports ecosystem preservation rather than depletion. Natural cork shows that buildings and interiors can do more than reduce emissions — they can actively contribute to the carbon balance.
FAQ
1. Why does a decline in emissions in a single country have such global importance?
China is responsible for roughly 30% of global CO₂ emissions. Even small percentage shifts therefore have enormous worldwide implications. In addition, China’s role in manufacturing renewable technologies influences costs and the speed of the energy transition globally.
2. How are cork oak forests different from conventional commercial forests?
In cork oak forests, trees are not felled to obtain raw material. Only the bark is harvested, and it regenerates. As a result, the trees live exceptionally long lives and increase their CO₂ absorption rate after each harvest.
3. What can I do as a designer or consumer?
Look beyond energy efficiency alone and consider the origin and carbon footprint of materials. Choosing solutions such as natural cork allows global trends — from renewable energy to emissions reduction — to be translated into concrete, local decisions with lasting climate impact.
