Ukraine war threatens global heating goals, warns UN chief

António Guterres said the aim of limiting global temperatures to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, the goal set out at the Cop26 UN climate summit last year, was in peril as countries sought alternatives to Russian oil and gas supplies.

As part of that plan, as well as expanding renewable energy generation, EU member states are seeking fossil fuels from other nations, such as gas from Qatar and oil from Saudi Arabia. Some may also consider an increase in coal-fired power generation.

Faced with high petrol prices, the US is also seeking to expand its imports of oil, even considering countries previously regarded as pariah states, such as Venezuela and Iran. Domestic US oil and gas production from fracking and drilling is also set to ramp up. Around the world, oil and gas companies see a bonanza from the ongoing crisis, driven by first the rebound after Covid-19 and now by countries moving imports away from Russia.

In the UK the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is considering a cut in fuel duty, to offset some of the price increases that have taken petrol near record highs. Critics warned such a cut would have little impact on poorer households.

The UN secretary general acknowledged widespread concern among climate experts that the progress on display at the Cop26 summit was in danger of dissipating under the pressure of soaring energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions.