JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
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 involving Iran, the United States and Israel, as well as, to a lesser extent, other countries, began a month ago.
Disruptions to supply have resulted in reduced access to fossil fuels that countries around the world need to generate electricity, leading to higher prices that have shaken global markets.
The United Nations said the obstacles caused by the closure of the strait underscore the fundamental issue that energy security is no longer just about supply, but also about resilience and the search for alternative energy sources in an increasingly unstable world.
Why it matters
Concerns about the use of fossil fuels are usually linked to climate change, due to the warming effects of the gases produced when burned, but now energy security is becoming more of a focus.
Earlier this year, the U.N Secretary General Antonio Guterres be warned that “in this age of war…our addiction to fossil fuels is undermining climate stability and global security.”
Impact of war
Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, it has become increasingly clear that:
- Critical oil and gas supplies are concentrated in areas vulnerable to conflict
- Transport links could be disrupted by military escalation
- Price volatility quickly spreads throughout the economy
The big picture
As countries around the world continue to rely on fossil fuels to meet the daily needs of their people and drive economic growth, it has become clear that they are more vulnerable to sudden supply disruptions than ever before.
Stable and strategic relationships with other countries to ensure high quality electricity supply as energy demand increases.
“Three-quarters of humanity lives in countries that are 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 Chattisgarh State, India.
The UN chief also warned of the risk of development budgets “being sucked into fuel budgets, due to geopolitical turmoil and supply disruptions”, and stressed: “We must stop treating the shift away from fossil fuels as taboo.”
The promise of renewable energy
One solution to avoid the crisis and chaos caused by lack of access to fossil fuels is to switch to renewable energy sources, for example solar, wind and water power.
This offers a fundamentally different model of electricity supply, one that is more accessible and potentially cheaper.
Renewable energy is often locally sourced, produced domestically, so it is less vulnerable to global turmoil that can be triggered by geopolitical crises.
As stated by UN climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized earlier this year, “renewable energy is the clearest and cheapest path to energy security and sovereignty, protecting countries and economies from shocks caused by war, trade turmoil, and ‘strong is right’ politics that makes every country poorer.”
The energy transition is underway
The transition from fossil fuel sources to renewable energy has begun.
Kenyain East Africa, has become a global leader in renewable energy, particularly geothermal power, and generates most of its electricity from renewable energy.
South American Country, Chileis one of the fastest growing renewable energy markets in the world. The country has shifted away from coal-fired power plants by increasing solar and wind power, taking advantage of natural conditions such as those found in the Atacama Desert.
Indiaalso, focusing on expanding solar and wind power infrastructure, integrating renewable energy into the national development and electrification strategy, although the country still relies heavily on oil and gas which is usually piped through the Strait of Hormuz from countries bordering the Persian Gulf.
Read UN Energy Progress Report 2025
People power, essentially
While energy security is a growing geopolitical issue that needs to be addressed by sovereign nations, it is also a deeply personal one, affecting families and individuals around the world, as communities face higher energy bills and an increase in the overall cost of living.
Gasoline prices are increasing globally.
According to the UN, in most cases, renewable energy is cheaper than coal, oil or gas, so it can directly reduce electricity costs for households.
Renewable energy can also protect communities from future price spikes by providing cheaper, more stable electricity directly to communities.
