Iran War Drives Clean Energy Adoption, But Emissions Rise Globally
The Iran war has had an unexpected impact on the world's clean energy development. According to experts, more than 30 governments have enacted policies to move away from fossil fuels or improve energy efficiency in response to the conflict.
However, despite this increase in clean energy adoption, global greenhouse gas emissions increased by 0.2% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to Climate TRACE. Emissions from road transportation increased, while power sector emissions declined due to disruptions in oil and gas markets.
The war has driven up prices for fossil fuels, making clean energy a more attractive option for some countries. As a result, investments in wind and solar deployment fell globally in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, with China accounting for most of the decline.
Despite these efforts, many experts caution that it will take time for new policies to show results. 'Governments are currently doing a dance between acknowledging the importance of clean power while continuing to support fossil fuel expansion,' said Pauline Heinrichs, a war studies lecturer at King's College London.