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

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Technology connections pitches electric cars I think in the way that speaks to many more people than the usual environment pitch. Basically " wouldn't you want energy independence?"

[–] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 20 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I'm actually surprised he didn't bring up how the regular maintenance on an EV is non-existent; it's a lot less hassle. There's no regular oil changes, for example. Even your brakes can last longer if you're good at single-pedal mode.

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If you work with any kind of machinery the reliability of modern ice vehicles is crazy good. People treat them like shit often and they still go. Lots of other machinery has maintenance schedules in single digit hours.

[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago

can confirm. my vehicle is a piece of shit because I didn't bother undercoating it, I drive it hard at times, I ignore CELs, I put off maintenance, etc

still running. mostly figured out that the idle and not starting after fueling issues I've been having was related to PCV valve and throttle body, but the exhaust still has lots of holes, the fuel tank will start leaking soon, and the suspension is entirely worn out (ok that one is just age)

and yet it keeps running

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I think we need to be careful about pushing this. In concept there is less maintenance, more reliability, but it comes down to quality and engineering.

Legacy technology has very mature engineering where they’ve done really well with cars that keep running despite everything. EV technology is less mature and legacy companies are still struggling to transition to new concepts and practices. It hasn’t always been smooth and any race to cheaper prices will not help

[–] SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Its a little depressing that it's the only argument that has a chance on most people. Killing millions? Don't care. Saving a bit of money? Ohh yeah!

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah I hate people too

[–] SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If I could be dictator for a day, climate change would be solved and so many would hate me.

[–] bss03@infosec.pub 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

https://play.half.earth/ ?

[–] SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Huh. Mostly just the consumerists and authoritarians who ended up hating me. The poorer parts of the world became more prosperous too.

[–] bss03@infosec.pub 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I can usually assuage the consumerists by implementing champagne socialism, but the authoritarians (and usually the accelerationsists and Malthusians) never get along with me.

But, depending which disasters hit and how quickly I have also been deposed several times, even once after restoring the climate to pre-industrial quality.

[–] SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yeah, accelerationists and malthusians were not my fans either. I did champagne socialism but that didn't stop the consumerists becoming my nemesis first.

Interestingly it took me longest to reduce temperature but biodiversity was improving very early on.

Happiness was higher than I expected it to be and early game political capital was what held back my more extreme ideas like banning cars. People were mostly chill with it thanks to other things, I think massively improving the poorer countries meant globally at least people must have overall liked it.