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 a “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.
But I was told it was Bidens Fault!
/s
And yeah it’s scary how selfish people are. I always think that people are like myself and look out for others, but no they’d fuck you over for a Klondike bar.
Thank you, Iran.
The Gang Solves Climate Change
While the title is technically true, it’s incredibly misleading to people who don’t read carefully, which unfortunately makes up a huge part of the internet
We’re gonna get a bunch of dumbasses thinking that the Iran war is somehow good for the environment
With all sources of carbon considered, including deforestation, total global CO2 emissions are set to continue increasing.
Well that’s not good.
The only real way to fight climate change is to make fossil fuels more expensive than alternatives. The vast majority won’t do it for environmental reasons.
I don’t get it. I live in Texas and even with the brain dead $300 registration fee tacked on for EVs and the significantly cheaper gas prices compared to the rest of the US, it’s still multiple factors of cheaper to drive an EV.
I bought a 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV. Even with excessive use charges from the electric company and the $300 annual registration spread out over 12 months, I spend around 1/3 to 1/2 of what my Prius cost in gas I had before this vehicle. And that was a PRIUS. I’m also not counting maintenance/repair items that only apply to a gas vehicle, like the head gasket it blew up, or the oil changes, or the coil pack that died in it…
I used 375 kWh last month charging. My electric rate is $0.075 per kWh until I use more than 400 kWh in a month. Then it goes to $0.096. Even assuming that all of my charging was at the higher rate, that’s $61 for the entire month of driving, if I break out the $300 annual fee across all 12 months. To drive the same ~1500 in my Prius V that got 38MPG on average between city and highway (according to the dash), that cost around $162 per month. And that’s in Texas, where gas is $3.25 a gallon right now. This is essentially worst case scenario for an EV, given all of the things against it, and it’s still barely above 1/3 of the cost.
Imagine someone coming from a fully gas SUV, in a state where gas is more expensive, where the registration fee isn’t 3x of the income of gas taxes, etc. It would blow that person’s mind that, instead of paying $50-60 per fill up one to two times a week, they could drive an EV for that much FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH.
Damn, jelly. I Also calculate my EV as cutting my gas cost in half but it would be harder to beat a Prius when my electric rate is $0.36 per kWh
It would blow that person’s mind that, …. they could drive an EV for that much FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH.
Surprisingly this doesn’t seem to work. Maybe it’s too abstract for many? I still get responses like “but damn that would really hit your electric bill”. I mean sure but it’s only half.
You sure it’s not $0.036? That seems excessively high.
If that’s actually what you’re paying, I’d seriously consider getting solar to offset the costs.
Yeah it’s pretty damn high, and that’s why I’ve been annoyed that Trump keeps trying to kill our offshore wind farms.
I looked into solar a few times and regret not doing so before the incentives were killed. They are still claiming seven year payback based on electricity prices and state incentives, but that upfront cost is a killer.
The solar installer industry is still full of scammers and greasy salesmen. Every negative stereotype you’ve seen about used car salesmen is so much more true of solar installer sales. Every time I’d barely get started in the process and already feel violated. It was such an unpleasant experience I was never willing to complete the process
It’s the sticker price of EVs that is the concern for people. Maybe also the price to install a charger at home? If car manufacturers would make more affordable EVs I bet more people would happily get one when they need a new car
I bought my 2023 Bolt EUV used still with the manufacturer warranty for $15.5k. Not cheap, but certainly not insanely high either.
As for charger, most people don’t need more than a standard wall outlet provides at 115V 12 amps. I charge mine on a 230V plug at 24 amps, which most people can accomplish easily with even an existing 100 amp service panel.
I wish we could make the entire US watch that Technology Connections video. He does a very good job of explaining how cheap charging solutions are enough for most of us
I did install a level 2 charger
- it was similar cost to installing a stove circuit, plus $500 for the charger. Really not that bad
- there are several cheaper options that would have been sufficient
- after three years it’s probably paid for itself
Don’t get me wrong, a full 48a level 2 charger is a great convenience, but minimally different from, say, repurposing an electric dryer circuit
On top of that it’s more convenient (if you have a garage) and more enjoyable to drive (quieter, better acceleration).
Absolutely
I’ve always been of the opinion that gas should be more expensive. This idea has been unpopular in pretty much every group I’ve exposed it to.
You’ll find it more popular here. There are at least several of us.
That’s because they have no convenient and affordable alternative. “A developed country is where rich people take the train, not where poor people drive cars”.
Dont forget demand destruction, I finally bought an electric car this year after years of putting it off. Since the oil companies jacked up their prices in response to a war for which they supported the very candidate who caused it, I said enough is enough. Hopefully I will never buy gas again in my life.
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?"
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.
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
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.
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
I hope that for you too. Luckily, I live near very good public trans, so for me, an e-scooter’s really all I need.
I mean we as a society have to ask, would we accept this level of insane fluctuation from anything else we buy? If you went to the store one day and bread was $2 bux a loaf, then you go again 3 days later and its $17, then a few days later is $9… Society would collectively say get your shit together on pricing! And we’d never buy bread again.
Well now Im never buying gas again. And its their own fault.
It’s a nice thought, but presumably (based on geography) you might be able to live with lower gas consumption. At least here in the US, it’s wholly possible that you only have one place to acquire groceries where you live.
Well that’s a double edged sword. There’s so much fluctuation in part because it’s such a ubiquitous commodity, availability is high and margins are low.
If branding mattered more (like with groceries) then prices would be more stable (but higher).
But as it is, nobody cares that much what brand of gas they get, it’s just gas. A name brand can’t demand a higher price just because it’s a name brand, nobody cares.
Society would collectively say get your shit together on pricing! And we’d never buy bread again.
I mean, prices at the pump aren’t fluctuating that much, but I do get your meaning. That said, in general people don’t really have much of a choice when it comes to food, we have to eat. I mean, do you remember how eggs surged in price during the pandemic years? People still bought them, it just sucked. Oh we complained about it alright! But we as a society didn’t do anything
Thanks Iran
Iran is environmentalist confirmed?
Trump’s going to claim credit for this
That’s not really surprising. Prices are up because supply is down. There is basically less oil products available to burn.
How is that everything that hits us globally ends up being good for nature
Gonna be real, you’d have practically give electric cars away if we want people to not use gas. My disabled ass cannot afford nor have the energy and motivation to go buy a used one,let alone a new one. it is out of reach.
And even then gas huffers will literally kill if you try to force them to use electric. They need to hear the gas exploding to offset thier small parts, and how else are you going to impress your redneck buddies down by the creek.
And don’t even get me started on the fucks who actually nut when a engine roars, they will do… Terrible things to keep thier fetish alive.
Public transport is the only solution. Car centric infrastructure is a death sentence.
Honestly, when the public transport will give me back the 2 more hours (in the best case) I need to commute it will begin to be an alterative, until that moment I don’t think is a real solution.
I’m guessing you’re thinking of the current structure of your cities public transport. Picture NYC infrastructure or japan’s or even china’s.
Nobody needs a car there because it makes more sense to just use public transport.
I am thinking more about the problem for someone like me that do not live in the city, but not that afar either, to reach the working place that is not in the city, but still not that afar either.
The problem with public transportation is never when you live (and work) in the city, it is always when you live outside the city and need to go in the city (or the contrary) or in some other small neighbouring towns.
I had no problems to go to the big city with a train, in fact it is often far faster then using the car, the problem begins when I need to go to a neighbouring towns.
You cannot realistically build a public transportation system that connect every small town/village with every other small town/village with a timetable comparable to the one used in the public transportation of the city .
And then I would still have the problem of moving inside the destination town: often they are not big enough to justify having a public transportation system.Well yeah the solution is to minimize the incentive for people to want to live rurally, while of course allowing them access to efficient vehicles, while incentivizing people to move to cities, where public transport can dominate the transportation infrastructure for the vast majority of the people on the planet (those who live in cities)
Personally I think it’s way too late for such significant and structural changes to be applied before we start experiencing mass famine, death, and of course resulting wars over resources. Our government institutions act too slowly for any of that to happen, and climate change is accelerating.
Well yeah the solution is to minimize the incentive for people to want to live rurally, while of course allowing them access to efficient vehicles, while incentivizing people to move to cities, where public transport can dominate the transportation infrastructure for the vast majority of the people on the planet (those who live in cities)
No, it is not a solution, it is only a way to other, probably worse, problems. You are basically proposing to replace all the towns and villages in every country with few megacities, I don’t think that it will work the way you are thinking.
Personally I think it’s way too late for such significant and structural changes to be applied before we start experiencing mass famine, death, and of course resulting wars over resources. Our government institutions act too slowly for any of that to happen, and climate change is accelerating.
It is not that it is too late, it is that it a stupid thing to do.
I think it’s stupid too but the smart option of degrowth is political suicide :P
No argument from me, you’ll just have to kill oil ceos and thier lobbies to do it.
Pretty much
Not sure where the sarcasm ends here so
- prices are getting closer every year, and that’s what the incentives were meant to counter. If not for protectionism, US would have comparably priced EVs like a lot of the rest of the world does
- operating cost of EVs is much lower, especially now
- as charging infrastructure is built out, more and more people will realize a new cheaper and easier option. No need to force anyone
- I still have my car in “Halloween mode” where it roars. It actually startled me a few times, even though I should be expecting it
Funny anecdote …… last night I drove to a shopping center to replace a headlight bulb on my kids car while they’re at work. Picture me parking next to an older Subaru, popping the hood, bending low over the engine compartment, contorting my upper body to maneuver my hands to the back of the headlights when suddenly behind me “ROAR”. Fucking a, even a little jump hurts when you’re tangled into an engine
I bring in less than 12k a year, find me an electric car I can afford on top of rent and food. :D I did not ask about charging infrastructure, it’s there, no argument. Motor heads -NOT I make fun of fake engine noises.
With that income there has to be very few of any cars that are actually affordable.
- it would be better if we can provide town centers where a car isn’t necessary and isn’t a sacrifice. Those don’t really exist in the us. Yet. But they could
- if there are affordable cars, EVs have not yet been around long enough to be there. But it’s a matter of time. I’m picturing 20 year old cars at that point so it may be different when EVs have been around that long.
I used to enjoy the rumble of a car with a Powerful engine, and nothing replace that vibration from a well tuned muscle car. But over time it got more artificial and farther from its roots. I will never enjoy artificial shift points. I will never enjoy noise makers. I will never enjoy the sound of a car that resembles a lawn mower or moped. Car guys have lost their way. However I do so much enjoy how my EV can out accelerate almost any gas car while making it feel effortless.
I’m serious when I compare many gas cars to steam engines. You can visit a museum or old-timey railroad and it is so incredible what they did back then. So many moving parts. So much noise. So much effort to make the parts survive all that violence. It’s really cool to see what they did back then. But it’s so primitive
deleted by creator
Donald Trump: more successful environmentalist than Greta Thunberg. No one had that on their 2026 bingo card.
