How transformative change boosts climate security

“Bold new national climate plans will be a jobs jackpot and economic springboard to boost countries up that global ladder of living standards. In the face of crop-destroying droughts, much bolder climate action to curb emissions and help farmers adapt will increase food security, and lessen hunger. Cutting fossil fuel pollution will mean better health and huge savings for governments and households alike. The transformative potential of bold climate action - in tandem with steps to advance gender equality - is one of the fastest ways to move away from business as usual. For those who say that climate change is only one of many priorities, like ending poverty, ending hunger, ending pandemics, or improving education, I simply say this: none of these crucial tasks – indeed none of the Sustainable Development Goals - will be possible unless we get the climate crisis under control. In fact, business-as-usual will further entrench the gross inequalities between the world’s richest and poorest countries and communities that unchecked climate impacts are making much worse.” Simon Stiell

This pivotal background paper marks a fundamental departure from the old playbook. It argues that energy security is no longer just about oil barrels; it's a multi-dimensional challenge at the heart of national, economic, and climate security. In a landmark Summit on the Future of Energy Security, the International Energy Agency (IEA), in partnership with the UK, has laid out a new, holistic vision for navigating an increasingly complex world. 💡 Here are the key takeaways from the report: 1️⃣ The old focus on oil supply disruptions is now just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The new landscape includes risks from clean energy supply chains, electricity grid stability, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather. 2️⃣ As the world electrifies, the stability and resilience of electricity grids have become the new frontline of energy security. This includes managing the integration of variable renewables, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring affordability. 3️⃣ The transition to clean energy trades reliance on fossil fuels for reliance on critical minerals and technology manufacturing. The report highlights the extreme geographic concentration of these supply chains as a major vulnerability. 4️⃣ Energy security can no longer be viewed in isolation. It is deeply intertwined with economic security (price volatility), digital security (cyber threats), and climate security (physical risks to infrastructure). 🚧 Key Challenges: ✴️ A major concern is the high geographic concentration of manufacturing and processing for clean energy technologies. The paper notes, for example, that China holds around 85-98% of battery manufacturing capacity and 80-95% of that for solar PV. ✴️ Energy infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to physical threats from extreme weather exacerbated by climate change, as well as growing cyber-threats to our highly digitalized energy systems. ✴️ The core challenge remains balancing security, affordability, and sustainability. However, this must now be done in a fragmented geopolitical landscape with competing national priorities. 🚀 Major Opportunities: ✳️ Expanding renewables and improving energy efficiency are powerful tools to reduce reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets and decrease import dependency. ✳️ New technologies, including AI, advanced grid management, and innovative storage solutions, offer powerful ways to optimize systems, enhance resilience, and manage new demand from sectors like data centers. ✳️ The complexity of these shared challenges demands a new level of international cooperation on everything from supply chain diversification and data sharing to establishing common principles for resilience. #EnergySecurity #IEA #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Geopolitics #SupplyChain #CriticalMinerals #Electricity #ClimateSecurity #Decarbonization

Decentralized Renewable Energy is more than a technology. It's a pathway to equity, resilience and economic transformation. As we confront the urgency of climate action and global inequality, Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) emerges as one of the most transformative tools for sustainable development. At the intersection of technology, equity, and climate resilience, DRE offers an opportunity to radically rethink how energy is produced, distributed, and owned - especially in the Global South Today, 685 million people still live without electricity and over 1.18 billion endure energy poverty; struggling to power irrigation for food security, digital tools for learning and/or essential equipment in health facilities. But as we accelerate toward universal energy access, how we achieve this goal is just as important as how fast we achieve it. The Global South has the opportunity to leapfrog fossil fuels and centralized grid models to design systems that prioritize justice, resilience, and local empowerment: 🔹 Empowering communities as energy "prosumers": DRE allows households and communities to generate, use, and even sell electricity; breaking away from dependency on centralized grids and enabling more equitable energy participation. This shift not only democratizes energy production but also reduces energy access disparities. 🔹 Creating green jobs and building local capacity: From installation to maintenance, DRE systems generate employment and skills training for local populations. This strengthens community resilience while catalyzing long-term economic development. 🔹 Enhancing energy security and climate resilience: DRE systems can de-risk infrastructure vulnerabilities associated to centralized grid failures & imported fossil fuels; which is especially important in areas prone to conflict, natural disasters and/or slow infrastructure rollouts. Decentralized energy is not just an infrastructure solution; it’s a catalyst for climate justice, gender equity, and economic inclusion. We need to prioritize enabling environments, financing mechanisms and policies that place communities at the center of the energy revolution. Find out how DRE can power and unlock more democratic and equitable energy futures: 👉 https://lnkd.in/edwEd7YE #EnergyForDevelopment #DecentralizedRenewableEnergy #EnergyJustice #JustTransition #FutureOfEnergy

“With the scarcity of rain and destruction of forests, we started having conflicts over resources. When the rains did arrive, they caused flooding as the cliffs that protected us eroded due to deforestation," I believe there are no stronger words than those of the people most affected to convey the realities they face and the responses required. This story from Mali provides a rare glimpse. "We re-established our traditional laws for sustainable use of forests. Since then, trees and forests have begun to regenerate, reducing conflicts and floods. Now, people in towns like Djénné and Mopti are also following our model.” – Salif Aly Guindo, President of Barahogon, a traditional Dogon institution revitalised to protect forests and natural resources In Mali, the impacts of climate change are not only environmental but also profoundly interlinked with peace and security. This new story illustrates how integrated climate action can strengthen resilience, support livelihoods and ease pressures that exacerbate fragility. The voices of Mali’s communities – from forest guardians and women leaders to farmers – remind us that when climate responses are tied to adaptation, governance, and peacebuilding, they can become powerful pathways to stability and prosperity. #ClimatePeaceSecurity (Story from UNDP & UNDP Mali) Parth Joshi, Adam Maiga, Jennifer Baumwoll, Catherine Wong, Serge Ndjekouneyom, Pierre Célestin BENGONO, Jean de Dieu Djasnan DJERAIBAYE, Roland Seri, Aimee Brown, Mehmet Erdogan, Kate Jean Smith, Lieneh Modalal, Dr. Charles Nyandiga, Daisy Mukarakate, Dorine Jn Paul, Valentin Hervouet, Nazanine Moshiri https://lnkd.in/e5agPQ5v