Global coal-fired electricity production is projected to drop 3% this year, the largest decline on record, concludes an analysis from three think tanks published by the website Carbon Brief.

Why it matters: Reining in carbon emissions from coal-fired generation is a pillar of every major pathway for limiting temperature rise.

The 3% rise in CO2 from coal generation in 2018 accounted for half of that year's increase in emissions from all fossil fuels, the study notes.

The big picture, per the report: "The record drop also raises the prospect of slowing global CO2 emissions growth in 2019."

"Nevertheless, global coal use and emissions remain far higher than the level required to meet the goals of the Paris agreement."

This year's decline follows "decades of near-uninterrupted growth."

What they found: Increases in non-fossil power sources, coal-plant retirements, CO2 pricing, and the slowing global economy all contributed to the decline.

Between the lines: The report explores regional developments that led to the overall drop, including...

Power demand growth in China, the world's largest coal-user, slowed this year and non-fossil sources met nearly all the increase.

Demand growth has also slowed in India, the world's second-largest coal consumer, while generation from non-coal sources has grown.

In the U.S., where coal-fired generation has been falling for years, 2019 will be one of the largest annual declines.

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