Moving Away from Fossil Fuels. Strengthening Energy Security.

Improving the environment is just one of the many positive outcomes of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. As recent research published in Nature Climate Change shows, gradually moving away from oil, coal, and gas will significantly boost energy security and lower trade risks for most countries around the world.

Lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth minerals are critical for building energy systems that do not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Unlike fossil fuels, the natural reserves of these materials are mostly concentrated in the Global South, shifting the geopolitics of energy and global trade.

Researchers analyzed the potential new vulnerabilities each country might face during the transition to a low-carbon future compared to the risks of continuing dependence on fossil fuels. They took into account databases on national reserves of oil, gas, coal, uranium, biofuels, and 16 key materials essential for clean energy technologies.

According to the study, most countries would benefit from reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. The research found that energy security-related trade risks would decrease by an average of 19% in net-zero emissions scenarios.

Only countries with significant oil reserves, such as Saudi Arabia, might find the shift to zero-emissions energy less advantageous. For the vast majority of nations, however, maintaining a reliance on fossil fuels would significantly undermine their energy security.