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Around the world, people are seeing gasoline prices and other energy costs spike since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February. It’s normal to wonder if there are cheaper, or at least less volatile, ways to get the energy that drives modern life.
Perhaps that’s why some world leaders are calling for a redoubling of global efforts to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has observed that there are no trade restrictions or price hikes on sunlight and wind.
But understanding the value of that shift is not the same as achieving it, writes Ezgi Canpolat, who studies energy transitions across the Middle East. In fact, for as much as the war and trade blockages have highlighted the advantages of a shift to renewable energy, those same forces have made installing renewable generation equipment more difficult.
For instance, Jordan has pushed hard to develop more renewable electricity to reduce its dependence on foreign oil. But in the meantime, the high cost of oil and the resulting global economic crisis mean that Jordan has less money with which to buy more wind turbines and solar panels.
As Canpolat explains, the war has exposed both opportunities and vulnerabilities in the effort to move away from fossil fuels – but the choices are different for every country, and will have to be addressed not only globally but also locally.
One last note: We have curated some of our most insightful articles about this conflict into a special e-book. Donate to support our work and we will send you that e-book as a special gift. Every gift of $5, $50 or $500 makes it possible to bring you research-based journalism, every day. Thank you.
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