China's coal consumption might have peaked in 2013 or 2014. That's the opinion in a commentary article by Nature Geoscience.

Scholars from research institutes in China, Britain and the United States co-authored the article. The conclusion is in contrast with the majority, as most projections place the peak coal consumption year between 2020 and 2040. 

The continuing economic slowdown and strengthened environmental policies are bringing down coal consumption, reversing the trend.

The article says coal will continue to be a major energy source. But the country's economic growth will no longer depend on rising coal consumption.