By Abdullahi Lukman
The United Nations has sounded the alarm over global reliance on fossil fuels, warning that it undermines national security, strains economies, and leaves households vulnerable to price shocks.
The warning comes amid soaring oil and gas prices caused by conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking at the 2026 Green Growth Summit in Brussels, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), urged governments to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
“Sunlight doesn’t depend on narrow shipping straits, wind blows without massive naval escorts, and renewable energy allows countries to insulate themselves from global turmoil,” Stiell said.
He described Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels as a major risk, noting that the continent spent over €420 billion on fossil fuel imports in 2024 alone. Stiell warned that repeating fossil fuel crises is inevitable unless nations shift decisively toward clean energy.
Renewables, he said, deliver multiple benefits: reducing energy bills, creating jobs, improving health, and strengthening economic resilience.
Stiell highlighted that in 2025, renewables overtook coal as the world’s leading source of electricity, with over $2 trillion invested globally in clean energy—double the amount spent on fossil fuels.
Leading companies in Europe are already pioneering green solutions across sectors, including green steel, shipping, cement, wind power, energy storage, and electro-tech services.
“Europe can seize a multi-trillion-euro investment opportunity by embracing green growth, leveraging education, innovation, smart regulation, and strong institutions,” Stiell said.
He added that secure and affordable energy has always been a foundation of peace and prosperity, and today, these lessons are more critical than ever.
The UNFCCC chief called on governments worldwide to reduce fossil fuel dependency and accelerate renewables deployment to protect economies, households, and the planet from future energy shocks.