BAKU – Global energy supplies are under pressure as conflicts in the Middle East push oil and gas prices higher, the UN’s leading climate official said Monday, warning that fossil fuel reliance leaves countries exposed to geopolitical shocks.
Speaking at the Green Growth Summit 2026 in Brussels, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, stressed the strategic advantages of renewable energy.
“Renewables are resilient,” Stiell told European ministers and industry leaders. “They provide stable energy without depending on conflict-prone shipping routes or costly military support. Countries that embrace renewables shield themselves from political turmoil and global price swings.”
He argued that fossil fuel dependence undermines security, inflates costs, and limits economic independence. “Switching to clean energy creates jobs, reduces bills, and improves public health by cutting pollution,” he added.
Pointing to recent trends, Stiell said that in 2025, renewables surpassed coal in electricity generation worldwide, with over USD 2 trillion invested in clean energy—double the investment in fossil fuels. European companies are at the forefront, leading innovations in green steel, renewable shipping, wind energy, and sustainable cement production.
“Europe can transform this moment of crisis into an opportunity for long-term growth and prosperity,” Stiell concluded, urging policymakers to strengthen green policies and seize the expanding clean energy market.
elamigo/xf
