The current crisis in the Middle East is exposing a major vulnerability in the global economy: the world has a serious dependence on fossil fuels passing through conflict regions. The United Nations has once again called on countries to accelerate the transition to cheaper and more resilient renewable energy. The Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf carries one-fifth of the world's oil and gas transport. Since Iran, the United States, Israel, and other relevant countries became involved in the conflict a month ago, shipping through the strait has been largely disrupted. The supply disruption has made it increasingly difficult for countries to obtain the fossil fuels necessary for power generation, driving up energy prices and causing tremors in the global market.

Issues of energy security are becoming increasingly prominent

The United Nations pointed out that the transport bottleneck caused by the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlights a fundamental issue: in an increasingly turbulent world, energy security is no longer just about supply itself, but depends on the resilience of the system and the ability to find alternative energy sources. For a long time, concerns about fossil fuel use have typically focused on its impact on climate change, namely that the gases produced by burning it exacerbate the greenhouse effect. But today, energy security is receiving increasing attention. Earlier this year, UN Secretary-General Guterres warned: "In this era of frequent wars, dependence on fossil fuels is simultaneously undermining climate stability and global security."

War amplifies energy risks

Since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, a series of risks have become increasingly prominent: critical oil and gas supplies are concentrated in regions vulnerable to conflict; military escalation could disrupt transport routes; price fluctuations can quickly spread to the global economy. As countries around the world continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels to drive livelihoods and economic growth, they are more exposed than ever to sudden supply disruptions. Against the backdrop of rising energy demand, establishing stable and strategically significant energy supply relationships with other countries is becoming increasingly valuable. In February this year, Guterres noted that three-quarters of the world's population live in net fossil fuel importing countries, depending on energy beyond their control and enduring unpredictable prices. He also warned that development budgets could be "swallowed" by continuously rising energy bills, manipulated by geopolitical turmoil and supply interruptions, and called for an end to viewing the transition away from fossil fuels as a taboo.

Renewable energy provides a solution pathway

One solution to address the crises and chaos caused by disruptions in fossil fuel supply is to turn to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro power. These energy sources offer a fundamentally different mode of electricity supply, are more widely accessible, and may be cheaper. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy is often locally sourced and produced domestically, making it less vulnerable to the global turmoil triggered by geopolitical crises. As Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, stated earlier this year: "Renewable energy is the clearest and most economical path to energy security and sovereignty. It can protect nations and economies from the impacts of war, trade disruptions, and politics based on 'might is right', which only serve to make each country poorer."

The energy transition is underway

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy has long been underway. The East African country of Kenya has become a global leader in the field of renewable energy, especially in geothermal power generation. The vast majority of the country's electricity comes from renewable sources. Chile, a South American country, is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets in the world. Leveraging the favourable natural conditions of regions such as the Atacama Desert, Chile is gradually reducing its reliance on coal power through the large-scale development of solar and wind energy. Although India is heavily dependent on oil and gas passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the country is also working to expand solar and wind energy infrastructure and incorporate renewable energy into its national development and electrification strategy.

The foundation of people's livelihood, the importance of energy

Energy security is not only an increasingly serious geopolitical issue that sovereign states need to address, but it is also closely related to the everyday lives of ordinary people, affecting households and individuals around the world. Rising energy prices are driving up the global cost of living. The United Nations points out that, in most cases, the cost of renewable energy is more resilient than coal, oil, or gas, and can therefore directly reduce household electricity costs. In addition, renewable energy can help people withstand the risk of future price surges by providing cheaper and more stable electricity directly to communities.

This article is reprinted from the United Nations News, original link: 中东危机暴露对化石燃料依赖的脆弱性 联合国敦促加快能源转型 | | 1联合国新闻 (un.org)