Iran Crisis Exposes Risks of Fossil Fuel Dependence

Numerous crude oil extraction byproducts made in the Gulf are unable to be shipped abroad because of the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Senior UN climate leaders are backing countries mobilising this week for a transition away from fossil fuels at a major event in Colombia.

The last UN climate conference, COP30 in Brazil, ended without a breakthrough agreement on phasing out coal, oil and gas. However, it did produce several positive developments, including commitments to increase climate financing, support adaptation efforts, and counter climate disinformation.

Progress toward a low-carbon global economy remained a key sticking point, as it has at previous COPs, with many countries and civil society groups expressing frustration over the lack of consensus.

That frustration has helped drive the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) event in Santa Marta, Colombia, which concludes on Wednesday. Described as a “coalition of the willing,” TAFF is seen as the first international diplomatic meeting focused specifically on the practical steps needed to move beyond carbon-intensive energy toward renewable sources.

More than 53 countries from different regions and development levels, including both fossil fuel producers and consumers, have joined representatives from academia, the private sector and civil society to outline a path toward more sustainable economies.

New imperative

Although TAFF is not a UN-organised event, senior officials have been invited, including Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition. He said the current global energy crisis, intensified by the Iran conflict, has exposed how “a global energy system built on fossil fuels is inherently unstable, volatile and unreliable.”

Addressing the conference, Hart noted that three out of every four people live in countries that import fossil fuels, leaving them vulnerable to external shocks beyond their control. Reducing that dependence, he said, is “a security imperative, an economic imperative and a development imperative.”

He added that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar offer greater stability and control, while also providing the fastest and most cost-effective path to universal energy access, at a time when nearly 800 million people still lack electricity.

No turning back

“There are no embargoes, price shocks, tariffs or tolls on wind or sunlight,” Hart said.

He warned that political and economic forces opposed to the transition are actively trying to delay progress by casting doubt on science, distorting economic realities and undermining credible climate information.

Hart called for the Santa Marta meeting to mark the start of a new phase of cooperation, sending a clear message that the shift away from fossil fuels is irreversible and must be pursued with urgency and strong partnerships.

An economic tipping point

Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division at the UN Environment Programme, said the urgency felt at the conference reflects growing volatility in global energy markets and their real-world impact.

He noted that renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, is now competitive in many markets and often cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. “We are seeing a strong shift toward electrification across entire sectors of the economy,” he said.

Market-driven shift

Krause added that the transition is increasingly being driven by market forces rather than policy alone. Consumers are feeling the effects through rising fuel costs and inflation, as energy prices influence the cost of food and other essential goods.

In some countries heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, the situation has become critical. “They can barely afford to keep the lights on or run air conditioners,” he said, adding that such conditions are forcing governments to reconsider their long-term energy strategies.

Experts warn that without faster action, dependence on fossil fuels will continue to expose economies to instability, while delaying the benefits of a more secure and sustainable energy future.