Carbon pollution drops, scientists cite Iran war
The gist
Global Carbon Project projects fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions will fall about 0.4% in 2026 to 38.2bn tonnes.
The drop is tied to war-driven oil shocks, not clean-energy progress, scientists caution.
How it unfolded
- Apr 28, 2026Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its blockade and the war ends, officials said.
- Nov 10, 2026The Global Carbon Project published its 21st annual global carbon budget, projecting a roughly 0.4% fall in fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions in 2026 to 38.2bn tonnes.
- Nov 10, 2026The report found oil emissions dropped nearly 2% to 12.6 billion tons and natural gas fell 0.3%, while coal rose 0.6%; findings were presented at the U.N. climate negotiations in Antalya, Turkey.
Key terms
- Strait of Hormuz
- A narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, bordered by Iran and Oman.
- U.N. climate negotiations
- The 31st yearly meeting of parties to the UN climate treaty, where governments assess and negotiate climate action.
- global carbon budget
- The maximum cumulative amount of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions allowed to limit global warming to a given level.
Source: Wikipedia