The conflict in Iran has "supercharged" the "boom" in renewable power, UN Chief30 Apr 2026 14:07
"The conflict in Iran has "supercharged" the "boom" in renewable power, the United Nations' climate chief has said."
It comes as electric vehicle numbers in Britain hit a record high of two million yesterday, amid a worldwide buying spree.
Simon Stiell, head of the UN's climate body (UNFCCC) said in a speech in Paris this morning: "From this tragedy, an immense irony is unfolding."
In a veiled reference to US President Donald Trump, who has pursued a policy of "energy dominance", he said: "Those who've fought to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels are inadvertently supercharging the global renewables boom."
Meanwhile, new electric vehicle sales in March were up 66% in Germany and 69% in France - and even by 72% in Italy, where drivers have been slower on the uptake.
If geopolitical instability becomes a defining feature over the coming years, oil demand could end up 20% lower and gas 10%, according to new modelling by Wood Mackenzie.
The crisis also invigorated the world's first-ever conference dedicated to ditching fossil fuels, held in Colombia this week and attended by 56 countries, including the UK and fossil fuel majors like Australia, Canada and Nigeria.