Speaking at the 2026 Green Growth Summit in Brussels, Simon StiellExecutive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said the volatility underscores the strategic value of renewable energy.
“Renewable energies change the situation” he said during a keynote speech at the event, which brings together European climate and environment ministers alongside businesses, investors and other key stakeholders.
“Sunlight does not depend on narrow, vulnerable sea straits, the wind blows without massive taxpayer-funded naval escorts. [and] Renewable energy allows countries to insulate themselves from global turmoil and bypass “might is right” politics.
In fact, renewable energy also meets the top priorities of people across the continent: security, well-paying jobs, better health and alleviating the rising cost of living, he added.
Fossil fuel dependence
“Fossil fuel dependence is destroying national security and sovereignty and replace it with servility and rising costs,” he said, adding that the reality is what most voters demand: climate action is delivered at scale.
“Renewable energy and resilience keep bills low and create many more jobs,” he said.
Fossil fuel dependence is destroying national security and sovereignty
“Eliminating fossil fuel pollution cleans our air, improving health and quality of life.”
Destined to repeat
“Some responses to the fossil fuel crisis, incredibly, advocate doubling down on the cause of the problem and slowing the shift to renewable energy even though it is clearly cheaper, safer and faster to market.”
“This is completely delusional because History tells us that this fossil fuel crisis will happen again and again.Steill said, adding that dependence on fossil fuels means economies, household budgets and company bottom lines are “at the mercy of geopolitical crises and price volatility in a chaotic world”.
His message to ministers meeting in Brussels was simple: docile dependence on fossil fuel imports will leave Europe forever reeling from crisis to crisis, and households and industries will literally pay the price.
The UNFCCC chief noted that the bloc is more dependent on fossil fuel imports than almost any other major economy, costing the continent more than €420 billion in 2024 alone.
‘Immense’ opportunities
Noting that by 2025, renewables will overtake coal as the world’s leading source of electricity, and more than $2 trillion will be invested in clean energy (twice as much as fossil fuels), he said “the opportunities are immense.”
As a leader in climate action and ambition, Europe’s efforts, including its Emissions Trading System, are driving investment and innovation, with the continent’s businesses at the forefront of growth and clean industries.
That includes SSAB, Maersk and Holcim, which are leaders in green steel, shipping and cement, and Siemens, Schneider and IPS, which are pioneers in wind energy, energy storage and electrotechnology services.
investment gold mine
“Europe can gain permanent control of the multi-billion dollar investment gold mine that is just beginning if it embraces green growth, building on its many strengths, [including] education, strong institutions, smart regulation, social justice and innovation and intellectual property, and supporting them with plans and policies.”
Last century, when a continent reeling from war came together to lay the foundations for integration, energy topped the list because countries understood that secure and affordable supplies, achieved through cooperation, were the foundation of peace and prosperity, he said.
“Today, these truths are more important than ever,” he said.
