We are, of course, talking about China — a country that for years has been the world’s largest emitter of CO₂ and at the same time one of the key players in the global economy. It is precisely there that the attention of climate, energy, and political analysts is now focused, because everything that happens to Chinese emissions has a direct impact on the rest of the world.
In recent months, data has emerged that until quite recently seemed unlikely: for more than a year, CO₂ emissions in China have been flat or slightly declining, rather than continuing to rise as before. Crucially, this is not the result of the pandemic, lockdowns, or a sudden economic slowdown.
In this article, we examine what exactly has happened in China, why it matters globally, and why clean energy alone is only part of the solution.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What actually 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 actually happened?
In short: since around 2024, CO₂ emissions in China have stopped rising and in many months are slightly lower year on year, pointing to a possible beginning of a sustained decline. This is a fundamental difference compared with earlier episodes of falling emissions, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the drop was driven by lockdowns, reduced production, and limited transport.
This time, the Chinese economy is still growing, energy demand is rising as well, yet the growth of emissions has been slowed — and in some areas reversed. The main reason is the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, which are increasingly displacing coal as the primary source of new energy, although changes in industry and transport also play a role. The dynamic growth of solar power, wind energy, nuclear power, and energy storage has meant that an ever larger share of new electricity demand is being met without emissions.
Why does China matter to the whole world?
China’s importance is hard to overstate. The country is responsible for around 30% of global CO₂ emissions — more than all European Union member states combined. This means that even a 1% change in Chinese emissions translates into hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO₂ per year on a global scale.
At the same time, China operates on an investment scale unmatched elsewhere. In a single year, it installs hundreds of gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity — more than most countries manage over an entire decade. The impact goes far beyond its own energy system. Mass production of PV panels, turbines, batteries, and renewable components in China has driven down global technology costs, accelerating the energy transition in Europe, the United States, and developing countries alike.
That is why the current flattening and local decline in Chinese emissions is not just an interesting data point, but a potential signal of a shift in the global trajectory — provided the trend continues. It shows that the energy transition can work even in the world’s most emissions-intensive and industrialised country. At the same time, it highlights that if such a large share of the problem is beginning to be addressed on the energy side, the next step must be to look at the rest of the puzzle — industry, materials, and the absorption of CO₂ already emitted.
The energy transition is only half the puzzle
The decline in emissions in China shows that clean energy works. Wind, solar, and nuclear power can genuinely reduce the amount of CO₂ entering the atmosphere, even in a country with enormous electricity demand. However, this is only one side of the equation.
The problem is that emissions are not the only issue — there is also everything we have already released. A vast amount of CO₂ accumulated over decades of fossil fuel use is still circulating in the atmosphere. Even if the entire world switched to zero-emission energy tomorrow, this “historical” carbon would continue to influence the climate for decades to come.
That is why the energy transition alone, although absolutely essential, is not sufficient without two additional elements:
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removing CO₂ that is already present in the atmosphere,
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and changing the materials from which we build homes, cities, and infrastructure.
It is materials — concrete, steel, plastics — that are responsible for a significant share of global emissions today. Even with green energy, their production often remains highly carbon-intensive. If we want to talk about genuine climate neutrality, we need to look not only at energy sources, but also at what we build with and how.
Nature as the missing piece of the climate puzzle
This is where nature enters the picture — not as an abstract idea, but as a concrete climate tool. Forests, soils, and ecosystems act as natural CO₂ sinks that function without complex infrastructure or technology.
Trees bind carbon in their biomass, soils store it in organic matter, and well-managed ecosystems can retain CO₂ for decades or even centuries. Crucially, this process can coexist with economic use if it is managed in a long-term and regenerative way.
That is why it is increasingly said that an effective climate strategy must combine:
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emissions reduction at the source (energy, industry),
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carbon absorption (nature),
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and materials that not only emit less, but are capable of storing carbon.
Cork oak: a forest that works for the climate
The cork oak is one of the few examples of a forest that does not need to be cut down to provide raw material. On the contrary — the longer it lives, the better it performs its climate function. That is precisely why cork oak forests are increasingly cited as a model example of combining economic activity with climate protection.
The bark of the cork oak is harvested cyclically, usually every 9–12 years, without harming the tree. The oak itself can live for 150–200 years, remaining an active CO₂ sink throughout its lifetime. Moreover, after each harvest the tree intensifies bark regrowth — which means an increased rate of carbon absorption from the atmosphere.
In practice, a cork oak forest functions as a long-term CO₂ absorption system. The trees store carbon not only in their wood and roots, but above all in their regularly regenerated bark. This distinguishes them from conventional commercial forests, where carbon absorption often ends at the moment of logging.
It is also important that cork oak forests are not economically worth cutting down. Their greatest value lies in long-term use rather than one-off timber extraction. As a result, entire ecosystems — soils, vegetation, microorganisms — remain stable, and the carbon stored within them does not return to the atmosphere.
The result? With each successive harvest cycle, cork oak forests absorb more and more CO₂ instead of losing this capacity. It is a rare example of a system in which economics and climate work in the same direction: preserving the forest means both a steady supply of raw material and a growing climate benefit.
Natural cork as a carbon store, not just a finishing material
When we talk about natural cork, we usually think of a material that is natural, warm to the touch, acoustically effective, or visually appealing. Yet from a climate perspective, its most important property is less obvious: natural cork is a physical carbon store.
Every natural cork product contains CO₂ that the tree previously absorbed from the atmosphere. This carbon remains “locked” within the material for its entire service life — often for several decades. As long as natural cork is part of a wall, floor, or façade, that carbon does not return to the atmosphere.
This reverses the classic logic of building materials. In the case of concrete, steel, or plastics, emissions are generated mainly during production, while the finished product carries no climate value. Natural cork works differently:
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it is made from a renewable resource,
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it does not require cutting down the tree,
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and the finished product becomes an extension of the forest in the urban environment.
In natural cork insulation, flooring, or wall coverings, this effect is particularly significant. A building ceases to be solely a source of emissions and begins to function as a passive carbon store. Moreover, many natural cork products have a very low production carbon footprint, and in some cases even a negative balance — the amount of CO₂ absorbed by the tree exceeds the emissions associated with processing the material.
In practice, this means that choosing natural cork is not merely an aesthetic or functional decision. It is also a concrete climate intervention, turning an interior finishing element into a long-term carbon carrier. In a world where more and more energy will come from renewables, it is precisely such materials that may determine whether construction becomes climate-neutral — or merely “less emissive.”
Summary
The decline in CO₂ emissions in China is an important signal: the energy transition is beginning to work even where the scale of the challenge is greatest. Massive investments in renewables show that emissions can be reduced without halting economic development. This shifts the global trajectory and provides real grounds for cautious optimism.
At the same time, this example clearly illustrates the limits of energy alone. Even the fastest decarbonisation of electricity will not solve the entire problem if we do not address materials and the absorption of CO₂ already present in the atmosphere. This is where nature comes in — not as an add-on, but as an integral part of climate strategy.
Cork oak forests and natural cork products are a strong example of such an approach. They represent a system in which emissions reduction goes hand in hand with long-term carbon storage, and where economic value supports ecosystem preservation rather than degradation. Natural cork shows that buildings and interiors can be not only less emissive, but can also actively participate in the carbon balance.
FAQ
1. Why does a decline in emissions in a single country matter so much globally?
China accounts for around 30% of global CO₂ emissions. Even a small percentage change in this country represents an enormous difference on a global scale. In addition, China’s production of renewable energy technologies influences prices and the pace of the energy transition worldwide.
2. How do cork oak forests differ from conventional commercial forests?
In cork oak forests, trees are not cut down to obtain raw material. Only the bark is harvested, and it regenerates. As a result, the trees live for a very long time and increase their rate of CO₂ absorption after each harvest.
3. What can I do as a designer or consumer?
Pay attention not only to energy efficiency, but also to the origin and carbon footprint of materials. Choosing solutions such as natural cork is a way to translate global trends — from renewables to emissions reduction — into very concrete, local decisions that have a long-term impact on the climate.
