UN climate chief warns fossil fuel dependence threatens Europe’s security

Monday 16 March 2026 - 14:20

By: Dakir Madiha

UN climate chief warns fossil fuel dependence threatens Europe’s security

The head of the United Nations climate body warned that Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels undermines the continent’s security and economic stability, urging policymakers to accelerate the shift toward renewable energy.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, delivered the message during the Green Growth Summit in Brussels. Addressing political leaders, investors, and business executives, he said renewable energy offers Europe the clearest route to energy sovereignty and long-term stability.

Stiell argued that dependence on fossil fuels weakens national security and increases economic vulnerability. According to figures cited in his remarks, Europe spent more than 420 billion euros on fossil fuel imports in 2024, making the region more dependent on external suppliers than most other major economies.

The warning comes as tensions involving the United States and Iran disrupt global energy routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime corridor that carries about 20 percent of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has effectively halted tanker traffic after Iranian forces declared the passage closed following U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Analysts at Citigroup warned that if the disruption lasts three months, wholesale natural gas prices in Europe could surge to nearly three times their pre-crisis levels.

Stiell said renewable energy systems are less vulnerable to such geopolitical shocks. Unlike fossil fuels, he noted, resources such as sunlight and wind are not exposed to shipping routes or military conflict.

The summit, organized by the Green Growth Partnership, gathered European climate ministers, corporate leaders, and investors to discuss economic strategies tied to clean energy.

Stiell’s comments echo debates that intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when soaring energy prices forced several European countries to reopen coal plants and sign long-term contracts for liquefied natural gas rather than rapidly expand renewable capacity.

He criticized those responses, arguing that doubling down on fossil fuels prolongs the underlying problem. A faster transition to renewable energy, he said, would be cheaper, safer, and more resilient for the region.

Spain was cited as an example of progress. Since 2019, the country has doubled its wind and solar capacity, reducing the exposure of electricity prices to volatile gas markets.

A report from the EU Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air found that the European Union spent about 396 billion euros on fossil fuel imports in 2025. For the first time, the United States became the bloc’s largest supplier.

The speech forms part of a broader United Nations campaign linking climate policy with national and economic security. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres argued that clean energy resources cannot be blockaded or weaponized, noting that sunlight and wind are immune to embargoes and price spikes.

On March 11, dozens of countries agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to ease supply shortages, a record intervention that nonetheless represents only about four days of global consumption.

Stiell warned that continued dependence on imported fossil fuels would leave Europe exposed to recurring crises, with households and industries ultimately bearing the economic costs.