International Renewable Energy Agency: Middle East conflicts highlight the urgent need for countries to build more resilient energy systems

【Caixin Global】 Global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions have intensified, making the energy transition an urgent imperative. On March 26, the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, La Camela, said while attending the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia that recent fighting in the Middle East has exposed the vulnerability of countries’ economic systems in responding to oil and gas price shocks, further underscoring that countries urgently need to build more diversified, resilient, and sustainable energy systems.

“Energy transition is not only a measure to address climate change; it also provides countries with an important pathway to strengthen energy security and improve economic resilience.” La Camela noted.

As early as December 2023, at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (i.e., COP28), agreement was reached on multiple issues under the “Emirati Consensus.” This consensus sets a target that by 2030, the world will accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels, triple installed renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency, and significantly reduce methane emissions.