Climate and energy crises dominate as UAE quits OPEC amid Iran war, wildfires ravage US South, and Trump administration blocks wind projects while renewable energy gains ground

UAE quit OPEC in May amid the Iran war and Hormuz strait crisis, weakening the oil cartel that Trump has long criticized for inflating prices and reducing global energy cooperation.

US gas prices surged to their highest level in four years, averaging $4.18 per gallon, driven by oil price spikes from gridlocked negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Middle East tensions.

Trump administration blocked US wind energy projects in a shift toward oil and gas, but the US generated more power from renewables than gas last month for the first time, indicating clean energy momentum despite policy headwinds.

Multiple wildfires devastated the US South, destroying over 100 homes in Georgia, while a Texas tornado killed at least two people, with extreme weather likely to persist across affected regions amid climate pressures.

Sea-level rise is forcing North Carolina coastal residents to relocate homes on wheels, with Hatteras Island becoming a 'canary in the coalmine' for climate impacts affecting East Coast communities.

Australia's energy demand hit record highs in early 2026 due to hot weather and power-hungry data centers, but rooftop solar record output helped moderate electricity prices during the crisis.

A climate summit in Colombia heard warnings that the current 'suicidal' capitalism model is leading to war and fascism, with fossil fuel interests threatening humanity's survival without urgent green energy transitions.

Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change impacts generates 'alarming' effects on fertility across global species, according to new research highlighting compound environmental harms.

NGOs called for a humanitarian corridor through the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran war blocks vital aid deliveries, with soaring oil prices preventing food, fuel and medicine from reaching millions in desperate need.

US utilities CEOs received nearly 16% pay raises averaging $12.3 million while utility bills rose up to 40% in some regions and companies shut off power to customers 13 million times in 2025, raising concerns about corporate accountability.