... Coal-burning in the US actually peaked in 2007 and has dropped by an astonishing 21%.

This is the largest drop in coal use, in absolute terms, ever experienced by any country in all of history, and no, it is not "just because of shale gas". More than half of the reduced coal use has been replaced by renewable energy, dominated by wind power, and by reductions in power consumption.

... New data for the first half of 2014 shows, for the first time this century, an absolute drop in China's coal consumption. Though this is unlikely to be sustained in the very short term several experts have predicted China's coal consumption will peak due to the new policies, and this drop seems to be evidence of the approaching emissions peak. Levelling off coal consumption in China would halve the global CO2 growth rate, putting global CO2 emissions in line with IEA's new policies scenario. The dominant role China's coal use has played in global emissions growth now suddenly becomes a reason to be optimistic. ...

... For those concerned about tackling climate change this isn't a reason for complacency. This is an all hands on deck moment, akin to a moment when the crew of a stranded ship suddenly sees an unlikely, narrow passage to safer waters.

The task of peaking global emissions of heat-trapping gases is more urgent than ever, and the fact that the target is now finally within reach is a reason to redouble our efforts, for a major turning point in the battle to prevent climate chaos.