Executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell has said that the ongoing war in the Middle East has exposed the dangers of global dependence on fossil fuels.
In a statement on Monday at the Green Growth Summit in Brussels, Stiell warned that countries will continue to face economic shocks if they fail to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. According to him, fossil fuel reliance leaves economies vulnerable to geopolitical crises, supply disruptions and volatile prices.
“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” the statement reads.
The UN climate boss noted that the latest Middle East conflict has already pushed oil and gas prices upwards, exacerbating the energy market disruption caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.
He maintained that such disruptions demonstrate how fossil fuel dependence leaves countries vulnerable to global conflicts and price volatility, warning however, that calls to expand fossil fuel production in response to the crisis would worsen the problem rather than solve it.
Stiell urged governments to accelerate investments in renewable energy, saying sources such as wind and solar provide more stable and secure energy supplies.
“Sunlight doesn’t depend on narrow and vulnerable shipping straits. Wind blows without massive taxpayer-funded naval escorts,” Stiell said.
Story was adapted from TheCable.
