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In today’s edition of Climatebase Weekly:

In today's edition of This Week in Climate, we saw Republican-voting states claim eight of the top 10 solar-building spots as the US added more than 11 gigawatts in Q2, a Guardian investigation tie at least a dozen IPCC lead authors to Saudi Aramco and oil interests, and the Iran war push global coal demand to a record while accelerating the shift to EVs.

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By Julian Moore

Republican-voting states are leading US solar deployment, according to a new Solar Energy Industries Association report, even as the Trump administration and Congress have curtailed federal support. States that backed Trump accounted for eight of the top 10 solar-building states in early 2026 and nearly three-quarters of the 11+ gigawatts added nationally in Q2, a 45% jump year-over-year. SEIA CEO Tim Pawlenty said red states embrace solar for pro-business reasons, not climate concerns, citing available land, easier permitting, and demand from manufacturing and data centers.

Texas and Florida ranked first and third; Indiana, Ohio, and Arizona were also consistent top-10 performers. Michigan rose notably, from 23rd in 2024 to fourth in 2026, aided by a state mandate for 50% renewable power by 2030 and data center demand.

The industry's future is less certain after 2025 legislation ended most federal tax credits, with credits expiring for new solar farms on July 4, 2026, spurring a construction rush beforehand. Rooftop solar has already begun declining. Experts note solar's economics increasingly hinge on regional sun resources rather than credits, meaning sunnier states may prove more resilient. 

A Guardian investigation has found that at least a dozen IPCC lead authors, particularly in a group that assesses emissions-reduction policy), have ties to Saudi Aramco, Saudi state institutions, or other oil and gas interests. Two are current Aramco employees, including Dr Mustafa Babiker, whose appointment sparked controversy last year. Five more come from KAPSARC, a Saudi government thinktank, and others have active research ties to Aramco or affiliated universities. One vice-chair, Dr Malak Al-Nory, simultaneously advises the Saudi energy ministry and represents the kingdom in UN climate talks.

Despite this, the IPCC's conflict of interest committee found no conflicts among its next report's authors in March 2026. Observers say this disconnect suggests the policy is inadequate or poorly enforced, and point out that the process does not require any public disclosure. Researchers link the trend to Saudi Arabia's strategy of opposing emissions cuts while promoting technologies like carbon capture that preserve its fossil fuel economy.

The IPCC defended its process, saying vice-chairs resolved concerns directly and no single country shapes conclusions given diverse author teams. Aramco declined to comment. Critics argue the IPCC must strengthen disclosure rules to protect its credibility amid pressure to delay the energy transition. No policy revision is planned.

The war in Iran has simultaneously boosted coal use and clean energy adoption worldwide. After the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, disrupted oil and LNG trade through the Strait of Hormuz sent fossil fuel prices soaring, particularly in Europe and Asia. In response, the IEA reversed its forecast and now expects global coal demand to hit a new record, rising 1.2% this year.

Yet a new Carbon Brief analysis suggests global fossil-fuel emissions will actually decline slightly this year, as high oil prices suppress consumption and accelerate the shift to clean alternatives. The situation in China provides an illustration: despite rising coal use, its emissions fell 1% in Q2 as oil use for transport dropped 16% and EV sales hit records, with most new cars sold last month being EVs or plug-in hybrids. Other countries, including Australia and Indonesia, also set EV adoption records, prompting the IEA to predict flat oil demand next year.

The key question is whether the coal rebound or the clean energy surge will prove more durable. Analysts suggest the coal increase reflects countries leaning on existing infrastructure during an acute crisis, while the clean energy gains involve new investments in EVs, solar, and storage that will outlast the crisis once it fades, leaving lasting momentum toward decarbonization.

China's exports of clean technology, including solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles, avoided 374 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions last year, more than Britain's total emissions, according to analysis by Lauri Myllyvirta of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Over their full lifetime, these 2025 exports are expected to avoid 6,900 MtCO2, a 31% increase from 2024 and roughly double India's annual emissions.

China holds a unique position as both the world's largest carbon emitter and its leading producer of emissions-reducing technology. Mass production at low cost has reshaped the economics of decarbonisation, especially in developing countries. Nearly a third of the avoided emissions came from solar exports to South Asia, where Pakistan's solar boom has given it one of the highest shares of solar power generation globally.

Myllyvirta noted that this surge in clean technology adoption, particularly in emerging economies, was unforeseen five years ago, before China's manufacturing boom drove down prices. That effect was compounded by two fossil fuel price shocks over the same period, further accelerating adoption.

Clean technology exports were worth $194 billion last year, according to Chinese customs data, with shipments already reaching $128 billion by June this year. Despite this rapid growth, the emissions avoided remain modest compared to global emissions, which totaled about 39 billion tons in 2024.

Latest Jobs

Check out some of the latest featured jobs below. If you don't see anything that speaks to you, you can always go to Climatebase to explore over 50,000 new climate jobs.

Rapid Radicals Technology, Inc.

“Innovative wastewater treatment technology that rapidly oxidizes contaminants, protecting communities and reducing industrial costs.”

Reunion

“Accelerating clean energy investments through a tax credit marketplace”

AgSpire

“Transforming agriculture through sustainable practices, impacting millions of acres with tailored programs.”

Airloom Energy

“Airloom Energy is engineering FOAK utility-scale track wind energy generation technology, reducing the size, weight, costs and timelines compared to conventional wind turbines”

OnPeak Intelligence

“Weather decision intelligence for high-consequence industries”

Strobe Power

“Autonomous energy operations for the grid's unmanaged edge.”

Vital Lyfe

“Vital Lyfe is a tech company redefining water autonomy through innovation, creating a new category of personal water making technology.”

HData

“HData combines centralized data, powerful AI, and purpose-built features to deliver actionable regulatory intelligence to energy professionals.”

Glimpse

“Ensuring battery quality to drive the electrification of everything and combat climate change.”

Tyba

“Energy modeling platform”

RCAM Technologies

“Automated 3D concrete printing for affordable renewable energy infrastructure and job creation.”

PowerMarket

“A Community Solar and clean energy delivery platform”

Marble

“Innovative ventures slashing emissions and cooling the planet with deeptech climate solutions.”

Sunairio

“Fast weather and climate modeling for dynamic energy markets.”

Ever.green

“Accelerating renewable energy investment to reduce fossil fuel reliance.”

AgriCapture

“Certifies Climate-Friendly farming practices and develops carbon credits to reduce and offset GHG emissions.”

Form Energy

“Affordable, long-duration energy storage for a reliable, 100% renewable electric grid.”

Solar Landscape

“Transforming rooftops into renewable energy sources for communities, saving costs and reducing carbon footprints.”

Twelve

“Transforming CO2 into essential products to eliminate emissions and build a fossil-free, climate-positive future.”