The Iran war is "supercharging" the world's shift to renewable energy, as countries scramble to reduce their exposure to volatile oil and gas markets, the UN climate secretary said on Thursday.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN's climate secretariat UNFCCC, said "those who've fought to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels are inadvertently supercharging the global renewables boom."

Early signs indicate the war, which began two months ago, is speeding up some countries' low-carbon transition, with demand for rooftop solar systems across Europe surging and countries including Pakistan reporting a jump in electric vehicle sales. According to market data, WTI crude traded at $71.50 per barrel on May 1, though prices spiked above $105 earlier in the week as tensions escalated.

UK Solar Installations Hit 15-Year High

Britain is experiencing a rooftop revolution driven by energy security concerns. New government data published shows that more than 27,000 solar installations were completed in March 2026 - the highest monthly total since 2012 - bringing the total number of solar installations across the UK to more than two million for the first time.

In March 2026 alone, there were 27,607 installations adding 121MW, with 66% on domestic properties, contributing 85MW capacity.

Solar capacity increased by 11.7% over the past year, adding 2.3 GW of clean, homegrown electricity to Britain's energy mix.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said of the figures: "This is our clean energy mission in action - helping families weather global energy shocks, bringing bills down, and getting Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster."

Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, suggested the installation surge in March may have been reactive, saying the British public is "clearly viewing net zero technologies like solar as the solution to energy bill volatility."

Renewables Dominate US Power Growth

The clean energy buildout continues at a rapid clip stateside despite policy headwinds. Solar will add 42,628.6 MW in 2026, expanding its share from 12.7% to 15.5%, while wind will grow by 14,507.4 MW, increasing from 13.1% to 13.6%, including 4,155.0 MW of new offshore wind capacity.

The EIA expects utility-scale battery energy storage to surge from 44,630.7 MW to 67,549.6 MW – an increase of 51.4%.

Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, said "notwithstanding all of the policy obstacles thrown up by the Trump Administration during the last year, renewables raced ahead in 2025" and "are poised to really press the pedal to the metal in 2026 and beyond."

In 2025, solar and wind provided about six times more new generation capacity than everything else combined, including coal, gas, nuclear, hydro and all other renewables, with annual electricity generation from solar and wind approximately equal, although solar has considerably faster growth rate and is expected to pull ahead.

Philippines and Singapore Forge Carbon Trading Partnership

Southeast Asia is building the infrastructure for regional climate cooperation. The Philippines and Singapore have formally signed a landmark agreement creating a legal framework for the generation and transfer of carbon credits, with project developers soon able to leverage this deal to develop high-quality carbon credit projects aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The agreement was formalized during ASEAN Climate Week in Manila, with the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna and Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu leading the virtual signing ceremony.

Singapore will channel 5 percent share of proceeds from authorized carbon credits towards climate adaptation measures in the Philippines.

Cuna said "for the Philippines, entering into this Implementation Agreement under Article 6.2 is a strategic decision—one grounded in our national priorities, development aspirations, and commitment to global climate action."

Natural Gas Struggles for Direction

While renewables surge, fossil fuel markets remain volatile. According to Natural Gas Intel, However, the war has also prompted some nations to increase the use of highly polluting coal or furnace oil-based power generation as they struggle to replace gas from the Middle East, with Turkey's Climate Minister Murat Kurum saying fossil fuel dependency now topped the global political agenda.

The dual pressures of geopolitical instability and climate commitments are reshaping energy markets faster than many anticipated. Stiell told a meeting of government officials at the International Energy Agency in Paris that "renewables offer safer, cheaper, cleaner energy that can't be held captive by narrow shipping straits, or global conflicts."