India’s emissions growth slows in 2025, growing just 0.7% from the year before, which is the slowest increase the country’s seen in more than 20 years, and a couple of reasons: renewable energy really took off, and electricity demand stayed low. India’s energy mix is beginning to shift, with clean energy making up more of the picture. Fossil fuels are still in the game, but they’re losing ground; the rate at which their use is growing has dropped off a cliff compared to the past. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, along with Carbon Brief, looked into all this, and their research suggests India’s actually starting to turn a corner on emissions intensity.
What Drove the Sharp Slowdown in India’s Emissions Growth?
Record renewable capacity additions: India saw record additions of renewable energy capacity, including 47 GW of solar power, 6.3 GW of wind power, 4 GW of hydro power, and 0.6 GW of nuclear power capacity additions in 2025, which resulted in a reduction of dependence on coal-based power.
Weak electricity demand growth: The growth of electricity demand slowed down, resulting in a reduction of coal-based power, which had a direct impact on the overall coal-based power generated.
Decline in power-sector emissions: India saw a sharp fall of 3.8% in power sector emissions during 2025, which is the steepest fall after the COVID-19 pandemic since 1973.
Coal output disruption: India saw coal-fired power generation dip for the first time since 1973, except during the pandemic.
