With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy security has become a top priority for many countries, particularly in Europe, that are heavily reliant on foreign energy. Due to Russia's substantial reserves in fossil energy resources and the largest natural gas reserves globally, countries dependent on Russia have had to seek resource and country diversity. However, the winter conditions in 2022 and mandatory energy savings did not pose a significant threat to energy supply security. Nevertheless, the economic effects of rising energy prices and inflation on family budgets and production costs have increased the importance of renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy is increasingly becoming a vital energy source due to its potential to decrease dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, as well as its potential to reduce dependency rates on countries with such resources. The importance of renewable energy has been emphasized during the Russia-Ukraine war, not only for energy supply security but also in economy, politics, and international diplomacy. Furthermore, renewable energy is a clean, renewable, and competitive energy resource that produces neither greenhouse gases nor pollutant emissions.
The UN has outlined five critical actions that the world must prioritize to transform renewable energy systems, increase their use, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. One such action is the need to make renewable energy technology a global public good to ensure that its use is facilitated in both rich and poor countries. Moreover, global access to renewable energy products and raw materials must be improved to facilitate the use of renewable energy. Decision-makers must urgently reform policies to prioritize and accelerate renewable energy projects and encourage private sector investment. To increase the use of renewable energy, it is crucial to shift energy subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Such a shift would not only reduce emissions but also contribute to sustainable economic growth, increased employment, the environment, and greater equity in the world.
Finally, more investment in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure is essential to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In conclusion, there can be no future without renewable energy sources.
