World carbon emissions remained flat for the third consecutive year in 2016. The stall is mainly due to the reduced coal consumption by main contributors China and the US. The emissions were expected to rise 0.2 percent on year over year basis to 36.4 billion tonnes in 2016.

According to The Global Carbon Project annual analysis, the flattening of carbon emission growth rate is a good sign. The emissions have remained stagnant despite the expansion in global economy, signaling that the relation between economic growth and emission rate may have been severed.

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However, co-author Glen Peters of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo said, "It's far too early to say we've reached a peak in emissions." He also added that innovations in the area of wind, solar, and natural gas energy will help in reducing the use of coal in US electricity production. Coal is one of the biggest sources of carbon emission.

US emissions are expected to dip by 1.7 percent in 2016, whereas China is on its way to show 0.5 percent decline. China accounts for nearly 30 percent of global emission, making it a major stakeholder in overall global emission control plan. Its emissions had declined 0.7 percent in 2015, while the US had registered 2.6 percent decline during the same time period.

China has pledged to peak its emissions by 2030 as per the terms of the Paris global climate pact. However, many analysts expect China to achieve its targets much earlier. However, the emissions rate from developing countries continue to grow. India's emission rate grew 5 percent in 2015. 

Tagschina, USA, Carbon emission, India