The Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass, has been largely closed to shipping since the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel, as well as a handful of other countries, began a month ago.
Supply disruptions have already resulted in reduced access to fossil fuels, which countries around the world need to generate electricity, leading to higher prices on global markets in the process.
The UN says the disruption caused by the virtual closure of the strait underlines a fundamental issue that energy security is no longer just about supply, but also about resilience and finding alternative energy sources in an increasingly unstable world.
why it matters
Concern over fossil fuel use is typically linked to climate change due to the warming effects of the gases produced when burned, but energy security has now come into greater focus.
Earlier this year, the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres caution That “in this age of war…our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilizing both the climate and global security.”
impact of war
Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, it has become more clear that:
- Vital oil and gas supplies are concentrated in conflict-sensitive areas.
- Military increase may disrupt transportation routes
- Price volatility rapidly spreads across economies
big picture
As countries around the world continue to rely on fossil fuels to meet citizens’ daily needs and drive economic growth, it has become clear that they are more vulnerable than ever to sudden supply disruptions.
Stable and strategic relations with other countries to ensure power supply as energy demand increases.
“Three-quarters of humanity lives in countries that are net importers of fossil fuels, dependent on energy they do not control, at prices they cannot predict,” Said Mr. Guterres in February this year.
Technicians work on solar panels in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
The UN chief also warned about the risk of development budgets being spent on fuel bills at the continued mercy of geopolitical turmoil and supply disruptions, insisting: “We must stop treating the transition away from fossil fuels as taboo.”
promise of renewable energy
One solution to avoid the crisis and chaos caused by the lack of access to fossil fuels is to transition to renewable energy sources, for example solar, wind and water energy.
These offer a fundamentally different electricity provision model, which is more widely accessible and potentially cheaper.
Renewable energy is often locally sourced, produced domestically, and thus less sensitive to global upheavals that could lead to geopolitical crisis.
as UN climate chief Simon Still Stressed on Earlier this year, “Renewable energy is the clearest, cheapest path to security and sovereignty, protecting countries and economies from the shocks from wars, trade turmoil, and ‘might-be-right’ politics that leave every country poor.”
energy transition underway
The transition from fossil fuel sources to renewable energy has already begun.
kenyaEast Africa has become a global leader in renewable energy, particularly geothermal energy, generating most of its electricity from renewable energy.
South American nation, chileOne of the fastest growing renewable energy markets in the world. It has moved away from coal-fired power generation by increasing solar and wind power, taking advantage of the type of natural conditions found in the Atacama Desert.
IndiaThe United States, too, has focused on expanding solar and wind infrastructure, integrating renewable energy into its national development and electrification strategies, although it still relies heavily on oil and gas that are typically delivered through the Strait of Hormuz from countries bordering the Persian Gulf.
read the UN 2025 Energy Progress Report
People power, the essence
While energy security is a growing geopolitical issue that sovereign nations need to address, it is also highly personal, impacting families and individuals around the world, as people face higher energy bills and an overall increase in the cost of living.
Petrol prices are increasing globally.
In most cases, according to the United Nations, renewable energy is cheaper than coal, oil or gas, and so it can directly reduce electricity costs for households.
Renewable energy can also protect people from future price increases by providing cheaper, more stable electricity directly to communities.
