The Energy and Clean Air Studies Center has reported that an increase in oil prices and a decline in its consumption in China because of disruption by the Islamic Republic in the Strait of Hormuz has caused the country’s greenhouse gas emissions to decrease.

Based on the estimates of this institute based in Finland, China’s consumption of transport-sector oil products this spring fell by 16%, and overall China’s total oil consumption decreased by 9%. For the first time, China’s greenhouse gas production is decreasing due to reduced oil consumption.

Despite increased coal consumption in the electricity generation sector, the sharp drop in China’s oil use has caused the country’s greenhouse gas production to fall by 1% this spring.

The expansion of renewable energy—especially the increase in electric vehicles—has also helped reduce China’s oil consumption.

China is the world’s largest oil importer and, in total, accounts for about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions—the biggest driver of global warming and climate change.