There’s no bigger story right now than the war in Iran.

On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hitting other sites across the country. The attack was carried out despite a complete lack of congressional approval and U.S. intelligence indicating no immediate threat from Iran. Now, it’s been two weeks, and the U.S. military has continued to carry out unauthorized strikes on over 5,000 targets.

Already, the impacts are staggering.

At the heart of the conflict is the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping channel used to transport around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas output. With the Strait effectively closed, the global energy market has been completely destabilized. Oil prices have skyrocketed past $110 per barrel, countries that rely on LNG no longer have access to it, and widespread inflation is potentially on the horizon. We’re already feeling the impacts here at home—according to one estimate, Americans are now spending at least $200 million more on gasoline per day than they were when the war started.

But the damage doesn’t end with market disruption and higher fuel prices—there are also climate and environmental impacts.

Military strikes have already wrought substantial havoc on Iran’s built and natural environment, releasing debris and toxic substances that are actively contaminating the country’s air and water supplies. Then there’s Israel’s bombing of a massive oil depot near Tehran, which has created conditions so hazardous that civilians are struggling to breathe and are at risk of developing severe ailments.

Underscoring all of that is the fact that jet planes, aircraft carriers, and weapons of war rely on massive amounts of fossil fuels and, as a result, contribute to substantial increases in emissions. Just look at Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has generated as many emissions as France does in a year.

But the overall impact of this war goes beyond even that.

More than 1,300 civilians have been killed in Iran, including 165 young girls and teachers at an elementary school. Other strikes across the Southwest Asian and North African region have killed an additional 400 people. And 7 U.S. servicemembers have lost their lives in the line of duty—a number that’s expected to keep climbing as the war continues to unfold.

The notable “winners” in this conflict are the U.S. fossil-fuel industry and its shareholders. It’s raking in crisis profits while lives are lost, our climate and environment are destroyed, and every day people pay the price. And so long as we continue to rely on fossil fuels, all of this—the suffering, climate damages, and economic strain—will continue.

Clean energy is our way out.

A clean energy transition isn’t just a means of bettering our climate, bolstering energy security, or ensuring market stability. It’s key to building a more peaceful world. No one is fighting wars over sunlight or wind. And so long as we keep fighting for clean energy, we will get there—to a future where wars for oil are a thing of the past, and wind, solar, and batteries provide all of the energy we need.

Join us as we challenge this devastating, unpopular war and continue to make the case for clean energy!