- cross-posted to:
- aboringdystopia
- cross-posted to:
- aboringdystopia
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/54245880
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.
Don’t tease me. I once told my very conservative friend that I wanted to see the gas prices skyrocket, and he was dumbfounded at why I would want that. And my answer was exactly this, its the only reason people will stop using fossil fuels.
We’ve proven that people don’t care about climate change unless it affects them directly.
This is why no US president has fucked with Iran in a meaningful way, until Dementia Don thought he could Captain America this shit and threw the world into chaos.
It is a sad truth that, at least in the US, the majority only ever cares about war when they’re personally affected. It’s why we have an “volunteer” military, though truly, our military is loaded with poor people who had no real option in their home communities other than joining up, and also why we’re never having another draft.
Even so, it’s still glad to see the majority becoming more anti-war even if only out of self-interest.