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No country has ever been invaded or bombed for their solar production capacity.
The air quality and emission reduction benefits from renewable energy are obvious and oft discussed. Today, I'd like to cover an equally important aspect of renewables that is mentioned far less frequently; let's talk about conflict and war.
Renewable energy is emerging as a powerful force in reducing global conflicts and fostering peace by decreasing reliance on finite (zero-sum) fossil fuels. Resources have long been a source of geopolitical tension. The shift to clean energy sources, such as solar and wind, offers a path to energy independence, thereby reducing the leverage that resource-rich nations hold over others. This transition has the potential to mitigate conflicts driven by competition for oil, methane, and coal reserves, which have historically fueled inequality, instability, war, and environmental damage.
Aspect | Benefits | Challenges |
---|---|---|
Energy Independence | Reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels, lowering geopolitical tensions. | Political capture by the fossil fuel industry. |
Economic Stability | Creates jobs, reduces poverty, and stabilizes economies, lowering unrest. | Fossil fuel exporters may face economic instability during the transition. |
Climate Impact | Mitigates climate-driven conflicts over resources, e.g., water and land. | Initial investment costs may strain developing nations. |
Geopolitical Leverage | Cannot be weaponized, unlike oil and methane, promoting global peace. | As long as there are people, there will always be something else to fight over. |
At the Sydney Energy Forum in 2022, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm highlighted the unique advantage of renewables. She stated, “No country has ever been held hostage to access to the sun. No country has ever been held hostage to access to the wind. They have not ever been weaponized, nor will they be.” Her words are just as true now as they were then, and they underscore a critical point: unlike fossil fuels, which are concentrated in specific regions and controlled by a handful of nations, renewable energy resources are abundant and universally accessible. Solar and wind energy cannot be embargoed or manipulated to exert political pressure. This universal availability reduces the risk of energy becoming a tool for coercion, as seen in historical conflicts over oil fields or gas pipelines.
Supporting renewable energy is supporting a global peace plan.
Granholm further emphasized the broader implications of this shift, exclaiming, “Our move to clean energy globally could be the greatest peace plan of all.” By investing in renewables, countries can achieve energy security without relying on volatile regions or authoritarian regimes that control fossil fuel supplies. This reduces the incentive for conflicts over resource-rich territories, such as those in the Middle East, where oil wealth has often fueled proxy wars and international disputes. A world powered by clean energy is less likely to see nations vying for control of energy resources, as every country can harness its own wind, sun, or water to meet energy needs.
Distributed renewable energy is distributed social empowerment.
Moreover, the economic benefits of renewables can further promote peace. Clean energy projects create jobs and stimulate local economies, reducing poverty and inequality, which are often the root causes of unrest. Unlike oil wealth, which tends to concentrate in the hands of a few, renewable energy benefits can be distributed more equitably, fostering social stability. By addressing energy poverty in developing nations, renewables can also prevent resource-driven insurgencies, where competition for scarce resources fuels violence.
In conclusion, the global transition to renewable energy is more than an environmental necessity; it is a strategic move toward peace. By eliminating the weaponization of energy resources, as Granholm articulated, and mitigating the economic shocks caused by reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets, renewables pave the way for a more stable, equitable world. As nations embrace clean energy, they reduce the incentives for conflict, making renewable energy a cornerstone of global security in the 21st century as we move to a Future Free from Fossil Fuels.