As global energy leaders gather in London, our NewClimate expert Gustavo De Vivero urges a redefinition of energy security that puts the energy transition at the centre. With fossil fuel-based energy systems proving increasingly volatile , renewable energy offers a more affordable and resilient path forward – one that also supports broader goals like climate action and sustainable development, he argues.
On April 24-25, energy ministers and industry leaders gather in London for the Summit on the Future of Energy Security, co-hosted by the UK government and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The summit comes amid growing calls to redefine energy security, as rising geopolitical tensions and increasing uncertainty in global trade are shifting focus away from the urgent need for a clean energy transition. As the summit kicks off, more than 130 companies, associations, and investors launched a campaign urging governments to reshape their energy security strategies – anchoring them in renewables and energy efficiency to ensure “long-term competitiveness, resilience, and prosperity.”
Despite the urgency of climate action, some governments are backtracking on climate commitments – weakening emissions targets, expanding fossil fuel production, and reframing energy strategies through a "narrow" lens of energy security.
As seen in the recent global energy crisis – intensified by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – fossil fuel-based energy systems are highly vulnerable to geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions, which can lead to sharp price spikes. As trade tensions and geopolitical turmoil deepen, fossil fuel markets are becoming more unstable, fuelling price volatility and triggering repeated energy crises. It is becoming increasingly clear that the world’s heavy reliance on fossil imports poses a threat to long-term energy security.
With some countries – like the US – expected to push its fossil fuel-driven vision of energy security at the IEA summit, NewClimate expert Gustavo De Vivero underscores that the energy transition must be at the heart of energy security strategy.
“We should be careful not to define energy security too narrowly – only in terms of access and availability of energy. True energy security must also consider affordability, energy efficiency, competitiveness, and resilience to volatile global markets. When we consider all of this, it becomes clear: the real strategic asset isn’t fossil fuels – it’s renewables,” he said.
“A resilient energy future depends on electrification and renewables,” he added, warning that doubling down on fossil fuels risks locking countries into high-emission, high-cost trajectories – undermining the very goal of lasting energy security.
Even amid political setbacks in some regions, the clean energy transition has continued to progress – and for good reason.
Renewables are now the cheapest source of power in most markets. Their rapid expansion is making electricity more affordable, while digitalisation can enable decentralised solutions in wider segments of the society and untap flexibility to increase shares of solar and wind in the power sector.
Technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles are becoming widely accessible, helping electrify end-use sectors – such as heating, transport and industry – and reduce primary energy demand. Spurred by economic opportunities and the surging demand for low-carbon solutions, businesses and investors are also backing a move away from fossil fuels to renewable-based electricity systems.
To build on this momentum, De Vivero argues that energy security must be fundamentally redefined. It requires a systemic approach that focuses on the long-term availability of domestic, affordable, reliable and renewable energy and its efficient use, rather than simply expanding short-term, non-renewable energy supply that locks countries into risky fossil fuel dependencies. That means rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, scaling up renewable generation, and decarbonising key sectors through electrification.
And if done right and in time, the energy transition can unlock development benefits that go well beyond energy security and climate goals, he said.
“The energy transition can be a powerful driver to achieve broader national and global priorities – not only limiting warming to below 1.5°C, but also promoting sustainable development, advancing social justice, and ensuring long-term energy security,” he added.
Written by Hyunju (Laeticia) Ock, writer and editor at NewClimate Institute.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of NewClimate Institute.
