Speaking at the 2026 Green Growth Summit in Brussels, simon stillExecutive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)UNFCCC), said the instability underlined the strategic value of renewable energy.
“Renewables change the situation” he said during the keynote address of the event, which brings together businesses, investors and other key stakeholders, as well as European climate and environment ministers.
“Sunlight does not depend on narrow and vulnerable shipping straits, the wind blows without naval escort largely funded by taxpayers (And) renewable energy allows countries to insulate themselves from global turmoil and sidestep right-wing politics.”
In fact, he said, renewable energy also meets the highest priorities of people across the continent: security, good-paying jobs, better health and relief from rising living costs.
dependence on fossil fuels
“Dependence on fossil fuels is eroding national security and sovereignty And it’s being replaced by subordination and rising costs,” he said, adding that the reality is that climate action delivers results at scale, regardless of what the majority of voters are demanding.
“Renewables and flexibility keep bills lower and create far more jobs,” he said.
Dependence on fossil fuels is eroding national security and sovereignty
“Reducing fossil fuel pollution cleans our air, improving health and quality of life.”
destiny is to repeat
“Some reactions to the fossil fuel crisis, unconvincingly, argue for doubling down on the cause of the problem and slowing the shift to renewable energy, even though it is clearly cheaper, safer, and faster to market,”
“This is completely delusional because History tells us, this fossil fuel crisis will happen again and again,” Mr. Still said, adding that reliance on fossil fuels means economies, household budgets and business bottom lines “At the mercy of geopolitical shocks and price volatility in a chaotic world“.
His message to ministers meeting in Brussels was simple: dependence on fossil fuel imports will forever slide Europe from crisis to crisis, with households and industries literally paying the price.
The UNFCC chief said the bloc is more dependent on fossil fuel imports than almost any other major economy, which is set to cost the continent more than €420 billion in 2024 alone.
‘Immense’ opportunities
Pointing out that in 2025, renewables will overtake coal as the world’s top electricity source, and more than $2 trillion has been invested in clean energy – twice as much as fossil fuels – he said, “The opportunities are enormous.”
As a leader in climate action and ambition, Europe’s efforts, including the Emissions Trading Scheme, are driving investment and innovation, with the continent’s companies at the forefront of clean industries and growth.
These include SSAB, Maersk and Holcim, leaders in green steel, shipping and cement, and Siemens, Schneider and IPS, leaders in wind power, energy storage and electro-tech services.
investment gold mine
“Europe can permanently seize the multi-trillion-euro goldmine of investment that is just getting started by embracing green growth, using your many strengths including education, strong institutions, smart regulation, social justice and innovation and intellectual property, and supporting it with plans and policies.”
In the last century, when a war-torn continent came together to build the foundation of integration, energy was at the top of the list because countries understood that secure and affordable supplies, obtained through cooperation, were the foundation of peace and prosperity, he said.
“Today, these truths are more important than ever,” he said.
