why it matters: About 20 percent of the world’s gas and oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that runs between Iran and Oman, and which has been largely closed to maritime traffic since the outbreak of the conflict between Iran and the United States.
Disruptions in those supplies have left countries facing volatile prices, geopolitical shocks and supply disruptions.
united nations news
“The turmoil we are seeing in the Middle East makes it clear that we are facing a global energy system that is largely dependent on fossil fuels.” Said united nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres“Where supply is concentrated in a few regions and every conflict risks causing a shock to the global economy, especially for the most vulnerable“
Renewable energies such as solar, wind and hydropower provide stable, household and increasingly affordable electricity.
they too rapidly overtaking fossil fuels As the backbone of modern energy systems, not only for climate reasons, but also for security and economic resilience.
renewable energy pitch
“Renewables already nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity,” Said Mr Guterres said in July last year that “No price hike for sunlight… no restrictions on wind“
Renewable energy is now “the foundation of energy security and sovereignty”, he said.
They also cut emissions, reduce pollution, create jobs and lower long-term costs, a combination that is driving a global change that is already visible in a handful of leading countries.
Norway: hydropower backbone, reducing dependence on oil
Big picture: Norway remains a major oil and gas exporter, although domestically, its electricity system is already highly renewable, ensuring a stable, domestically controlled energy supply.
© Unsplash/Oscar Daniel Rangel
Norwegian cities such as the capital Oslo are largely powered by renewable energy.
Energy Mix:
- Hydropower dominates (all around). 90-95 percent power generation)
- development of wind energy sector
- Minimum use of fossil fuels in power generation
It is also moving towards a complete transformation, including electrification of transport, expansion of offshore wind farms and a gradual move away from the use of fossil fuels in the domestic sector.
Read more about which countries are making efforts towards renewable energy here: United Nations Energy Statistics Pocketbook 2026
Paraguay: renewable electricity power plants
Big picture: Paraguay is one of the world’s clean energy leaders, generating all of its grid electricity from renewable energy, particularly hydropower.
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
The hydroelectric Itaipú Dam on the Paraná River is jointly operated by Brazil and Paraguay.
Energy Mix:
- almost 100 percent hydropower (Shared binational dams like Itaipu)
- The use of fossil fuels in electricity is negligible, although the transportation sector is still dependent on fossil fuels.
With abundant hydropower, Paraguay enjoys extremely low-cost electricity, energy independence as well as export revenues from surplus electricity.
Nepal: hydropower is changing lives
Big picture: Nepal has rapidly expanded hydropower and is now almost entirely renewable in electricity generation for its grid, although the transport sector is still dependent on fossil fuels.
UN News/Vibhu Mishra
Solar powered lights are burning on a busy road in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
Energy Mix:
- dominance of hydropower
- Small but growing solar and micro-hydro systems
- Dependence on imported fossil fuels for electricity is decreasing
UN figures show About 98 percent of Nepal’s total electricity capacity is renewable..
Hydropower is reducing Nepal’s dependence on imported fuels and helping to stabilize energy supplies in a mountainous, infrastructure-challenged country.
The landlocked country is now working towards expanding rural electrification, developing decentralized renewable systems and moving towards clean energy instead of traditional wood cooking, thereby reducing household pollution that particularly affects women and children.
Ethiopia: Renewable energy expanding access and opportunity
Big picture: Ethiopia is emerging as a renewable energy leader in Africa, with its system dominated by hydropower and expanding solar power.
© IWMI/Petra Schmitter
Solar power is helping farmers in Ethiopia irrigate their crops more efficiently.
Energy Mix:
- Large scale hydropower from major dams
- Increase in solar and wind capacity
- Minimum fossil fuel production in electricity
UN data shows More than 98 percent of Ethiopia’s electricity capacity is renewable.
Renewable energy is central to Ethiopia’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported fuels and achieve universal electricity access to support economic growth, especially to communities far from the national grid.
bottom line
A common pattern is emerging across very different geographic regions, from hydropower-rich Norway and Paraguay to developing economies like Nepal and Ethiopia:
- Renewable energy enhances freedom
- They stabilize costs and reduce the risk of global crises
- They bring tangible benefits to people, from jobs to health and opportunities
The transition is not uniform, and challenges remain, particularly in financing and infrastructure.
But as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “The energy transition is unstoppable…”Renewable energy can, literally and figuratively, put power into the hands of people and governments”
empowering other countries
Of course, not all countries benefit from reliable sources of hydroelectric and solar energy, nor from the funds to exploit these renewable options.
Learn more about how other countries with fewer natural resources and large populations are moving toward energy security in the second part of the UN news series on renewable energy.
