Climate Change, Energy, Power & Security, Europe, Russia Climate Action Meets Energy Security: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine Adds a New Dimension to Energy Transition

This article is a product of a workshop on “The Global Order after Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine,” hosted by Perry World House on April 14, 2022.

The European Union has been one of the primary drivers of climate action, advocating for a reduction in the use of fossil fuels in its member states. EU policies and private donors are developing new ways to achieve this goal, including resources committed to post-COVID recovery. However, sky-high energy prices, especially natural gas, resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine have slowed these goals. The war has made Russian energy resources, on which Europe depends, not only unreliable but also unwelcome.

The war in Ukraine should spark a significant shift in thinking about energy transition in the developed world, with climate action now having to account for energy security. It is still unclear what energy sources could emerge as a winner, but there seems to be an opportunity hidden in the background: an opportunity for the world to create an actionable plan for sustainable development with a strong decarbonization agenda.

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