The U.S. war with Iran has raised fossil fuel prices so much that the resulting drop in oil demand has put the world on track to see a rare dip in carbon emissions from these sources in 2026.

Between 2019 and 2025, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels grew by about 0.8 percent annually, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. But 2026 is set to buck that trend: high oil prices, as well as the continued rise of green technology—solar power, wind and electric cars—will cause a “short-term” 0.4 percent drop, according to the study.

“The high petrol prices following the war in Iran are reducing oil use and keeping emissions low,” says the study’s lead author Corinne Le Quéré, a professor of climate change science at the University of East Anglia in England. “But that’s not the whole story: The expansion of renewable energy has progressed a lot in recent years, led by China. And [along with electric vehicles], this is offsetting two thirds of the growing demand for energy.”

With all sources of carbon considered, including deforestation, total global CO2 emissions are set to continue increasing.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 2 points 7 hours ago (1 child)

I'm honestly starting to reassess whether it's even worth it to put energy into a strong primary push, or if I should just sit it out and let it all crumble under its own weight.

But I know if I choose the latter, even then I won't have the satisfaction of saying "I told you so," because people will never learn from their mistakes, and they'll still sideline voices like mine to be drowned out by the deafening sounds of handwringing and placating lipservice.

So reminding them that present circumstances were predicted years ago and that we should have listened then, they'll just say "that isn't helpful right now," and then go back to their corporate-sponsored thinktanks who have been telling them to ignore it all along the way.

Maybe my energy would be wiser spent doing doomsday prep.

We'll see how things go starting in January, and reassess by 2028.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 1 point 6 hours ago

    I would say vote third. If an offered candidate has a history in representation, local, state, or national, you can check their voting record on ballotpedia or other sites.

  • source
  • parent