The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is exposing vulnerabilities in global fossil fuel supply chains and strengthening the case for renewable energy as a foundation for energy security, according to the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Francesco La Camera.
Speaking to UN News during the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Week, La Camera said the crisis was changing how countries viewed energy security, shifting attention from traditional oil and gas reserves towards diversified, decentralised energy systems under greater domestic control.
He said dependence on fossil fuels leaves countries vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions because supplies are concentrated in a few regions and transported through strategic maritime routes. Disruptions along these routes can quickly affect global energy markets and fuel prices.
La Camera noted that renewable energy accounted for about 90 per cent of new power generation capacity added globally each year. He also cited China’s solar capacity overtaking its coal-fired capacity for the first time at the end of July as evidence of the pace of the energy transition.
He said renewable energy combined with storage could provide reliable, round-the-clock electricity at a lower cost than gas or nuclear power, challenging concerns about the reliability of solar and wind generation.
However, he warned that rising electricity demand and lagging energy-efficiency improvements could widen the gap between power supply and demand by 2030.
To address these challenges, the IRENA chief called for investment in interconnected and flexible electricity grids, fairer regulatory frameworks and workforce retraining to support the transition.
He also urged multilateral financial institutions to prioritise grid modernisation and infrastructure financing, particularly in developing countries where high financing costs and inadequate electricity networks continue to constrain renewable energy development.
IRENA is also advancing its “35 by 35” goal, which seeks to increase electricity’s share of final energy consumption to 35 per cent by 2035, alongside efforts to accelerate electrification across transport, buildings and industry.