UN climate chief says Middle East conflict exposing fossil fuel underbelly
Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), says the ongoing war in the Middle East has exposed the dangers of global dependence on fossil fuels.
In a statement to be delivered 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 chief 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.
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The ripple effects of the war are also being felt far beyond Europe, including in developing economies that rely heavily on imported fossil fuels.
In Nigeria, rising global energy prices have worsened the cost-of-living crisis, with transportation fares increasing and electricity access becoming more expensive for households and businesses.
Higher fuel costs have also increased the price of running generators — a major source of power for many Nigerians due to the country’s erratic grid supply.
Stiell said the impact of energy supply shocks is also affecting parts of Asia.
He cited reports of universities closing early in Bangladesh due to energy shortages and discussions in the Philippines about cutting public working hours to manage rising electricity costs.
According to him, such disruptions demonstrate how fossil fuel dependence leaves countries vulnerable to global conflicts and price volatility.
He warned 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.
He added that expanding renewable energy could shield economies from geopolitical turmoil while reducing electricity costs, improving public health and creating new jobs.
Stiell also called on governments to strengthen climate policies and deliver on their commitments under the Paris Agreement.