What the gulf conflict means for Europe’s energy

Europe Edition - Today's top story: Iran oil shock: the EU has very few options to limit the war's economic impact – and prevent a recession View in browser   Europe Edition | 12 March 2026 Europe is being affected in many senses by ongoing airstrikes in the Middle East. Amid such uncertainty and fluctuations in the oil and gas markets, the European Union's leitmotif will be one of economic damage limitation. The Paris-based International Energy Agency's coordinated release of the largest ever emergency oil stocks, a move unanimously backed by all 32 of its predominantly European members, is a short-term solution that will ease cost-of-living pressures. Investing in homegrown renewables and improving energy sufficiency would, however, offer the EU a brighter outlook in terms of continental resilience. Nitrogen-based fertiliser is among the commodities potentially being choked off via the Straight of Hormuz shipping waterway. A lasting "fertiliser shock" would pose a deeper, far-reaching threat, particularly for Spring planting, and could lead to an agri-food crisis. Researchers have invented a new classification tool that monitors the environmental havoc invasive species are causing, quite literally at a grassroots level as they alter soil, water and entire ecosystems. We take a look at how health systems are tackling Sepsis. The life-threatening condition that can lead to organ failure affects an estimated 3.4 million people annually in Europe alone. Demographic change and drug-resistant infections are making care harder to manage. And finally, seismic activity suggests that the chances of a tsunami in the Med are surprisingly not as slim as you might think. We take a look at early warning systems and how coastal communities like Nice should prepare. Carly Lock Editor, Paris Iran oil shock: the EU has very few options to limit the war's economic impact – and prevent a recession Sergi Basco, Universitat de Barcelona Many of the measures rolled out during the 2022 Ukraine crisis aren't viable for Europe today. How biological invasions are silently remodelling ecosystems Franck Courchamp, Université Paris-Saclay; Laís Carneiro, Université Paris-Saclay Invasive alien species don't only drive out other native species, they also dramatically transform soils, water and ecosystems. A new assessment tool aims to pinpoint the negative environmental impacts. How the Iran war could create a 'fertiliser shock' – an often ignored global risk to food prices and farming Nima Shokri, United Nations University; Salome M. S. Shokri-Kuehni, United Nations University; Technical University of Hamburg Without this form of fertiliser, crops will not produce yields on which the world's population depends, leaving people starving. Tsunami risk in the Mediterranean: why Nice should prepare an evacuation plan Frédéric Leone, Université Paul Valéry – Montpellier III A tsunami risk in the Mediterranean is real. Coastal towns like Nice can get "Tsunami ready" by coordinating fast, effective preventive and awareness-raising efforts. Why sepsis is becoming harder to treat in Europe Steven W. Kerrigan, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Doctors must treat sepsis quickly to prevent organ failure. But demographic change and drug-resistant infections are making the condition harder to manage. Super-agers' brains stay young into old age. New research brings us closer to understanding why Jannette Rodríguez Pallares, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Some elderly people have the memory of someone 30 or 40 years younger. Pregnancy changes the brain – and we are only beginning to understand how and why Birgit Derntl, University of Tübingen; Ann-Christin S. Kimmig, University of Tübingen; Franziska Weinmar, University of Tübingen Pregnancy reshapes the brain more profoundly than scientists ever imagined – and a landmark new study is finally mapping exactly how. Could the US cut off trade with Spain? Here's what international law says Hernán Núñez Rocha, Universidad de Alcalá The EU's deeply integreated single market makes it very difficult to isolate one member state. Scandinavians cycle to work even on snowy days, here's why that makes sense Till Koglin, Lund University Winter cycling is increasing in some places in Scandinavia.         You're receiving this newsletter from The Conversation The Conversation France (assoc. 1901) 14, rue Sainte-Cécile 75009 Paris Forward to a friend  •  Unsubscribe