The war in Ukraine “can be seen as a blessing” from a climate perspective, says the head of the UN weather agency.
The comment from Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization, refers to the acceleration of green energy induced by the war-related. fuel shortage.
Last month, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera made similar comments – albeit with a better choice of words.
“In the medium and long term, the crisis in Ukraine will lead to an acceleration of energy transfer because governments have finally realized that the search for renewables is not only good for the environment, jobs, GDP, but also good for ensuring higher energy independence,” said La Camera.
Although some countries have quickly turned to fossil fuels to meet rising demand, rising prices have also made renewable energy such as. solarwind and hydrothermal more competitive in the energy market.
The energy crunch also led many large countries in Europe and beyond to start conservation measures, and talk of rationing arose in some places.
Why does Taalas describe the war in Ukraine as a ‘blessing’?
Economic sanctions against major oil and natural gas producer Russia have fueled a surge in gas and energy prices.
This prompts an increase in the use of fossil fuelsand became a “shock for the European energy sector”, according to Taalas.
“On a five- to 10-year timescale, it’s clear that this war in Ukraine will accelerate our consumption of fossil energyand it accelerates this green transition,” he said.
“That’s why we’re going to invest more renewable energyenergy-saving solutions,” and some small nuclear reactors are likely to come online by 2030 as “part of the solution”, he said.
“That’s why climate perspective, the war in Ukraine can be seen as a blessing,” Taalas added.
Various UN leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have previously highlighted the lessons to be drawn from the ensuing conflict. strength crisis.
“As well as its devastating human impact, conflict is fueling rising global costs fossil fuels addiction, and the urgent need to facilitate the transfer of renewablesto protect people and planet,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Climate change also puts energy supplies at risk
Taalas spoke as the WMO released a new report saying that the supply of electricity from clean energy sources must be doubled within the next eight years to prevent the rise of global temperature.
The latest “State of Climate Services” annual report – based on contributions from 26 different organizations – focuses this year on strength.
Taalas said that the energy sector is currently responsible for about three-quarters of emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, and he called for a “complete transformation” of the global energy system.
He warned that climate change affects the generation of electricity – and it may have further effects in the future. Among the risks, nuclear plants that rely on water for cooling can be affected by lack of waterand others are located in coastal areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise or flooding.
In its report, the WMO noted that by 2020, about 87 percent of global electricity generated from thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric system – which produces less CO2 than plants powered by fossil fuels – depends on the availability of water.