In brief | 19 March ‘26

Climate Action Tracker: Germany’s latest projections show energy transition slowdown as emissions gap widens 

The government is slowing down the transition, moving further from climate targets, meaning the country will remain dependent on fossil imports for longer.

The Guardian: Iran threatens Gulf energy facilities after Israeli attack on its largest gasfield 

Revolutionary Guards say they will strike infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar after South Pars field hit.

Reuters: Iran war energy shock sparks global push to reduce fossil fuel dependence 

After COVID-19, Ukraine invasion, third energy crisis of the 2020s triggers reassessment of supply vulnerabilities.

BBC: How the Iran war has left Europe facing yet another energy crisis 

Knock-on effects of the conflict now whipping through the Middle East are awakening ghosts of crises past that shook the European Union.

Politico: Fossil fuels? No thanks. Why Trump’s Iran war is pushing EU toward renewables 

EU countries may argue about the short-term fixes for high energy prices, but agree that clean power is the best long-term bet.

Euronews: Cheaper energy bills could be an overnight reality if European governments cut tax 

Taxes on electricity can be four times higher than those on fossil fuels, with 28 percent of the average European consumer’s electricity bill going to taxes and levies in 2025.

EU Commission: Energy in Europe - imports dependency 

Interactive publication makes energy statistics more understandable by exploring topics such as energy products, dependency, sources and consumption.

Euronews: China treads carefully on Iran war as it balances energy security and neutrality

War is disrupting global energy flows and increasing the risk of wider regional escalation, leaving major economies such as China walking a tightrope.

Greenpeace: Briefing - US fingerprints on EU deregulation agenda 

Examples show how Trump administration is dictating deregulation agenda to the EU, actively pushing to dismantle environmental and social standards.

Renewables Now: Germany’s import-based hydrogen strategy risks geopolitical exposure 

An import-dominated hydrogen system in Germany without a corresponding national storage infrastructure is not a viable energy system but a geopolitical risk, a study has found. 

The Guardian: UK to cut climate aid to developing countries by 14% to £2bn a year in ‘refocus’ 

Move will put national security and lives overseas at risk, critics say, as overall UK aid budget is slashed to 0.3 percent of gross national income.