It is already suffocating us with warming. And yet, we care less
Executive summary: Global temperatures continue to rise, making heat extremes more common, yet societal concern about climate change is weakening. Diminishing climate momentum could slow policy action and investment in mitigation, while reduced crude dependence lessens geopolitical oil risks and renewables lower power costs.
Who is involved: Governments, energy markets, renewable investors, China as a transition beneficiary, and the general public experiencing heat extremes.
Likely next: If climate concern stays low, policy momentum may stall; however, ongoing cost advantages of renewables and China's push for clean tech could sustain the transition independently of public sentiment.
The article notes that despite worsening heat extremes, public and political attention to climate change is declining, even as the world becomes less dependent on crude oil and renewable electricity becomes cheaper. It observes that China is capturing the greatest benefits from the global energy transition, while the climate cause loses momentum. This juxtaposition highlights a potential misalignment between the physical realities of warming and the socio-political will to act.
Timeline
- — Iran War +++: Data firm: Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz recovers (Handelsblatt)
- — It is already suffocating us with warming. And yet, we care less (El País — Economía)
- — The copper fever surpasses gold fever under the shadow of scarcity (El País — Economía)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Continued Chinese expansion in renewable manufacturing and battery supply chains
- Further declines in crude oil geopolitical premiums as demand shifts
Sectors affected
- Energy (oil & renewables)
- Metals & mining (copper)
- Utilities & power generation
- Climate policy and finance
Regulatory implications
- Risk of delayed tightening of emissions standards
- Monitoring of supply‑chain security for critical transition metals
Historical parallels
- The 1970s oil shocks that spurred efficiency gains despite low public urgency
- The post‑2008 renewable surge driven by cost competitiveness rather than climate activism
- China’s dominance in solar panel manufacturing mirroring its current role in the broader transition
Sources
- It is already suffocating us with warming. And yet, we care less — El País — Economía
- Iran War +++: Data firm: Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz recovers — Handelsblatt
- The copper fever surpasses gold fever under the shadow of scarcity — El País — Economía