{
  "id": 19353819,
  "title": "Oil prices are so high that CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are dropping",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/oil-prices-are-so-high-that-co2-emissions-from-fossil-fuels-are",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-10T15:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Scientific American",
    "slug": "scientific-american",
    "url": "https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-prices-are-so-high-that-co2-emissions-from-fossil-fuels-are-dropping/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The ongoing war between the United States and Iran has led to a significant increase in fossil fuel prices, which in turn is driving a decline in carbon emissions from oil and gas sources. According to a new study published in Nature Climate Change, 2026 is projected to see a temporary reduction of 0.4 percent in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels compared to the previous five-year trend of annual growth of about 0.8 percent. This drop is attributed to higher oil prices, coupled with the accelerated adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind energy, and electric vehicles. Corinne Le Quéré, the lead author of the study and a professor of climate change science at the University of East Anglia, emphasizes that while the war-induced price hike is reducing oil consumption, the expansion of renewables is offsetting two-thirds of the increased energy demand. However, the study indicates that if fossil fuel prices revert to their pre-war levels, emissions will likely rebound to previous levels. The findings come amid the ongoing United Nations climate talks in Antalya, Turkey, and a year marked by extreme global temperatures and climate disasters. Researchers also noted a minor decrease in emissions following the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 recession, but both instances saw emissions rebound in the subsequent year. Le Quéré stresses the need for further acceleration in the expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicles to ensure a sustained decrease in global fossil fuel emissions and effectively tackle climate change.",
  "summary": "The war in Iran has put 2026 on track for a dip in annual fossil fuel carbon emissions",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}