The turn to coal is the obvious story. The real one is how this conflict is stress-testing Asia's green transition, forcing a choice between energy security and climate goals. This isn't a temporary patch but a potential fracture in the global climate consensus. The key question now is how deep that fracture will run.
Governments across Asia are increasing their reliance on coal to address significant energy shortfalls triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran. South Korea is delaying planned shutdowns of its coal-fired plants, and the Philippines is boosting output from its own facilities. This reversal directly challenges regional decarbonization efforts, highlighting how the conflict is forcing a choice between immediate energy security and long-term climate policy.
The turn to coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, is drawing sharp warnings from climate experts and represents a significant stress test for the global green transition. The critical question is whether this is a short-term emergency measure or the beginning of a strategic realignment. The decisions made by these and other regional powers in the coming months will reveal how deeply the conflict is fracturing the global climate consensus.
Get the complete cross-vector breakdown, risk assessment, and actionable intelligence.
Join ESM Insight →