The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has advocated homegrown renewable energy amid the global oil crisis.
He made this known in a post on his verified X handle late Monday.
His comments came following the United States-Israeli war against Iran, which has affected global oil prices.
What the UN chief is saying
Guterres said that for decades, dependence on fossil fuels has meant dependence on volatility, noting this is unsustainable.
- “In past oil shocks, countries had little choice but to absorb the pain. Now they have an exit ramp: homegrown renewable energy has never been cheaper, more accessible, or more scalable.
- “The resources of the clean energy era cannot be blockaded or weaponised. There are no price spikes for sunlight and no embargoes on the wind,” the UN chief said.
He noted that the fastest path to energy security, economic security, and national security is to speed up a just transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy.
Renewable energy in Africa
Africa has strong potential for renewable energy if the continent is to tap its abundant natural resources, including water, sunshine and wind.
- Nairametrics reported last year that the European Union highlighted the gap between Africa’s renewable energy potential and the level of investment it receives.
- According to the EU, the continent holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, yet attracts only 2% of global energy investment.
Despite its solar wealth, Africa faces high capital costs, limited investment, geographic barriers, and supply chain constraints that slow progress in renewable energy deployment.
The EU noted that 600 million people across the continent lack access to electricity.
With Africa’s population expected to double by 2050, providing affordable and sustainable energy is crucial for both economic growth and global climate goals.
What you should know
The conversation around renewable energy is expected to gain more ground given the tensions in the Middle East that have affected oil availability and pushed prices up.
- Bombed refineries, disrupted shipping channels, and skyrocketing fuel prices have impacted the global energy system, which is heavily dependent on fossil fuels caused by the ongoing United States-Israeli war against Iran.
- This has led to the continued disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, connecting the biggest Gulf oil producers with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The war has already effectively shut the strait, leaving tankers unable to sail for more than a week and forcing producers to halt pumping as storage facilities fill.
- Brent crude futures fell more than 10% on Tuesday after soaring by as much as 29% on Monday to their highest level since 2022. Global stock markets also bounced.
- The price of gasoline has particular political resonance in the United States, where voters cite rising costs as a top concern ahead of the November midterm elections, when Donald Trump’s Republicans will try to keep control of Congress.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday found that 67% of Americans expect gas prices to rise over the coming months, and only 29% approve of the war.
