With US and Israeli strikes on Iran continuing and no end to the conflict in sight, calls are growing for the rest of the world to reduce its dependence on oil and gas. But experts tell Stuti Mishra that moving away from oil is no easy task – if it was, we’d already have done it
BackThe Middle East crisis has accelerated calls for moving to renewables. But is clean energy ready to replace oil? | The Independent
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Ecosystem Impact
The persistence of conflict in oil-rich regions poses immediate risks of environmental degradation from military operations and potential sabotage of energy infrastructure. Furthermore, the difficulty in decoupling from fossil fuels, as highlighted, suggests a prolonged reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources, which delays the mitigation of global heating and places continued stress on fragile carbon sinks and biodiversity.
Systemic Reality
Geopolitical instability serves as a forced catalyst for energy sovereignty, potentially accelerating the transition to renewables as a national security priority. However, the systemic inertia and high capital requirements of shifting global energy infrastructures create financial market volatility, where the immediate need for energy security may conflict with long-term climate policy frameworks and decarbonization targets.
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