When the Strait of Hormuz closed for a month earlier this year, something unexpected happened: the world didn't scramble to burn more fossil fuels. Instead, according to analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), global coal-fired power generation dropped 3.5% and gas-fired power fell 4% across countries with real-time electricity data outside China. The gap was filled not by other fossil fuels, but by renewables — solar generation surged 14% and wind rose 8%.
The numbers suggest a resilience in the global energy system that few would have predicted even a decade ago. While the Strait's closure initially rattled oil markets, with prices briefly spiking above $100 a barrel amid geopolitical tensions, the electricity sector's response showed how far clean energy has come. "This was offset by a rise in solar power and wind generation," CREA noted.
European nations, meanwhile, are doubling down on the transition. France's prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, pledged €10 billion annually through 2030 for electrification — a doubling of existing support. "We are committed to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels," Lecornu said in an April speech. Ireland announced a €505 million support package to shield citizens and businesses from energy price shocks, while Germany unveiled €1.6 billion in measures. A draft EU proposal set to be unveiled aims to reduce electricity prices and accelerate clean energy deployment across the bloc.
The shift appears driven not just by crisis, but by political will. In Hungary, Péter Magyar's electoral victory over Viktor Orbán opens "new opportunities for the country to reduce emissions and invest in clean energy," according to Time magazine. Carbon Brief explored what this means for European climate action broadly.
Researchers also found troubling context for why these transitions matter. A study in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science revealed that current air pollution from global transport has a cooling effect that offsets 80% of the warming caused by the sector's carbon dioxide emissions — meaning that as pollution controls clean the air, they may temporarily accelerate warming unless CO2 is cut simultaneously.
There are storm clouds on the horizon. Meteorologists warned this week of a potential "super" El Niño developing that could push global temperatures higher and intensify extreme weather events. And in Afghanistan, communities continued to suffer the devastating consequences of climate-linked disasters, with recent floods killing nearly 100 people and affecting 74,000 across 31 of 34 provinces.
Yet the electricity data offers a glimmer: the world is increasingly able to absorb shocks without reverting to dirtier energy. As nations grapple with geopolitical volatility and climate disruption, the renewable transition is no longer a distant aspiration — it's becoming the default response.