How Will The War Affect Climate Change?

Will a “New Cold War” change the course of action with regard to the climate crisis?

• A month into the Ukraine war, big oil companies are attempting to use the conflict to convince Western leaders that the fossil fuel industry should expand to reduce the reliance on Russia’s energy.
• US Democrats are already mulling a policy change to improve their prospects at the midterm elections, and might move away from their climate change bill and towards attempts to control gas prices.
• Simultaneously, Europe’s need for energy independence is felt acutely, and countries like Germany are now scrambling to find ways to ditch Russian gas and fast track alternative energy solutions.
• Some experts believe that in the short term, the war might slow down European decarbonisation efforts, as energy security becomes a bigger priority.
• Germany, Europe’s largest economy, may temporarily delay its phasing out of coal and nuclear energy, as its dependence on energy from Russia is huge.
• The war will also impact Russia’s own plans to fight climate change: Putin committed the country to carbon neutrality by 2060, but analysts think the war will stand in the way of this being achieved.