The Iran war and AI boom reshaped climate discussions at New York climate week. Soaring oil and gas prices, driven by Iran's seven-month blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, pushed consumers toward renewables, batteries, and electric vehicles. Politicians and executives argued the crisis accelerates the transition to clean energy as a source of cheaper, more secure power. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir emphasized energy independence and resilience. Turkey proposed a global goal for 35 percent of final energy use to come from electricity by 2035. The message contrasted with US President Donald Trump, who likened climate warnings to doomsday AI warnings in his UN General Assembly speech. Beyond the US, Chinese exports of batteries, EVs, and solar equipment averaged $21 billion a month, up over a third since the conflict. Solar exports to Africa rose 37 percent, while EV sales doubled in Indonesia and the Philippines. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted Europe "bitterly felt the cost" of fossil fuel dependence, with import costs rising €90 billion. European electric car registrations jumped nearly two-thirds in August 2026. Renewable energy, led by geothermal and hydropower, generates 80 percent of Kenya's electricity.

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