The Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor carrying around 20 million barrels of oil daily, is at the center of what experts call the greatest threat to global energy security in history. The crisis surpasses the impact of the 1970s oil shocks and the 2022 Ukraine gas disruption combined, with oil prices spiking over 60% in March 2026. In response, the International Energy Agency released 400 million barrels from emergency reserves, its largest-ever action. While such measures provide temporary relief, they are not a long-term solution to the vulnerability caused by dependence on fossil fuels.
Unlike past crises, today’s clean energy options are viable, affordable, and scalable. Expanding solar, wind, electric vehicles, and heat pumps could reduce fossil fuel import bills by up to 70% for importing countries. Solar panel prices have halved since 2022, battery costs have dropped 36%, and global EV adoption has doubled, displacing oil consumption equivalent to 70% of Iran’s exports. Experts note that renewable energy offers a domestic, conflict-proof solution, with solar growth in 2025 alone potentially offsetting gas-fired electricity equivalent to all LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
The urgency of transitioning to clean energy is reinforced by climate realities. The World Meteorological Organization reports that the last eleven years were the hottest on record, with Earth’s energy imbalance at its highest level. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasizes that reliance on fossil fuels destabilizes the climate, economy, and global security simultaneously. Renewable energy provides a solution that strengthens climate resilience, energy security, and national security all at once.
Despite the technological and economic feasibility, energy vulnerability remains widespread. Three-quarters of the global population live in countries that import fossil fuels, collectively spending USD 1.7 trillion in 2024. Around 666 million people lack access to electricity, and 2.1 billion still rely on polluting cooking fuels. These communities are disproportionately affected by price shocks, highlighting the need for clean energy solutions that ensure reliable access without exposure to supply disruptions.
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is advancing solutions to address this gap. Its Universal Energy Facility has grown from USD 8.5 million to USD 67.3 million, deploying mini-grids and standalone solar systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. Collaborations with the World Bank, African Development Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet aim to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030, with 44 million already reached since July 2023. At COP30, SEforALL coordinated initiatives to accelerate electricity access, clean cooking, and energy efficiency.
The clean energy transition offers a pathway to simultaneously tackle climate risk, energy insecurity, and access gaps. Proven technologies, favorable economics, and the geopolitical urgency of crises like the Hormuz disruption make this moment critical. Clean energy can reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel supplies, keep expenditures domestic, and reach underserved communities, providing a practical, equitable, and sustainable solution for the world’s most exposed populations.
