CO2 emissions are projected to decline by 0.6% this year according to the Global Carbon Budget 2015 report released this week by the Global Carbon Project (GCP).
While declines in emissions have previously occurred during periods of economic crisis, this will be the first decline during a period of strong global economic growth.
"The major contributor to this change has been decreased coal consumption in China,” said executive-director of the GCP and co-author of the report, Dr Pep Canadell.
According to the report, the largest emitter in 2014 was China, followed by the United States, the European Union and India. Together these regions account for almost 60% of global emissions.
