The disruption of those supplies has exposed countries to volatile prices, geopolitical shocks and supply disruptions.
“The turmoil we are witnessing in the Middle East makes it evident that we are facing a global energy system largely tied to fossil fuels.“said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “where supplies are concentrated in a few regions and each conflict risks sending shock waves through the global economy, especially the most vulnerable people.”
Renewable energies, such as solar, wind and hydroelectric, offer stable, domestic and increasingly cheaper energy.
they are also rapidly overtaking fossil fuels as the backbone of modern energy systems, not only for climate reasons, but also for security and economic resilience reasons.
The discourse of renewable energies
“Renewable energies already almost equal fossil fuels in global installed energy capacity,” Guterres said in July last year, adding that “There are no price increases for sunlight… nor embargoes for wind energy.”
Renewable energies are now “the basis of energy security and sovereignty,” he stated.
They also reduce emissions, reduce pollution, create jobs and reduce long-term costs, a combination that is driving global change already visible in a handful of pioneering countries.
Norway: Hydropower backbone and oil dependence fading
The big picture: Norway remains a major oil and gas exporter; However, at the national level, its electrical system is already overwhelmingly renewable, ensuring a stable and controlled national energy supply.
Norway’s cities, such as the capital Oslo, are largely powered by renewable energy.
Energy mix:
- Hydroelectric power dominates (about 90-95 percent of electricity generation)
- The growing wind energy sector
- Minimal use of fossil fuels in energy generation.
It is also moving towards a total transition that includes the electrification of transport, the expansion of offshore wind farms and the gradual abandonment of the use of fossil fuels in national sectors.
Read more here about which countries are moving towards renewable energy: UN Energy Statistics Pocket Book 2026
Paraguay: renewable electrical power
The big picture: Paraguay is one of the world leaders in clean energy and generates all of its grid electricity from renewable energy, particularly hydroelectric power.
The Itaipú hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River is jointly operated by Brazil and Paraguay.
Energy mix:
- Almost 100 percent hydroelectric power (shared binational dams like Itaipu)
- Negligible use of fossil fuels in electricity, although the transport sector still depends on fossil fuels.
With abundant hydropower, Paraguay enjoys extremely low-cost electricity, energy independence, and export revenues from surplus energy.
Nepal: Hydropower transforms lives
The big picture: Nepal has rapidly expanded hydropower and is now almost entirely renewable in generating electricity for its grid, although the transport sector still relies on fossil fuels.
Solar-powered lights line a busy street in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
Energy mix:
- Dominated by hydroelectric power
- Small but growing solar and micro-hydro systems
- Decreased dependence on imported fossil fuels for electricity
UN data indicates About 98 percent of Nepal’s total energy capacity is renewable..
Hydropower is reducing Nepal’s dependence on imported fuels and helping to stabilize energy supplies in the mountainous and infrastructure-challenged country.
The landlocked country is now working on the expansion of rural electrification, the development of decentralized renewable systems and is moving from traditional firewood cooking to cleaner energy, reducing domestic pollution that especially affects women and children.
Ethiopia: Renewable energy expands access and opportunities
The big picture: Ethiopia is emerging as a renewable energy leader in Africa, with a system dominated by hydropower and expanding solar energy.
Solar energy is helping Ethiopian farmers water their crops more efficiently.
Energy mix:
- Large-scale hydroelectric power from large dams
- Growing solar and wind capacity
- Minimal generation of fossil fuels into electricity.
UN data shows More than 98 percent of Ethiopia’s energy capacity is renewable..
Renewable energy is central to Ethiopia’s strategy to achieve universal access to electricity, especially in communities far from the national grid, to reduce dependence on imported fuels and support economic development.
The final result
In very different geographies, from hydropower-rich countries Norway and Paraguay to developing economies like Nepal and Ethiopia, a common pattern is emerging:
- Renewable energies improve energy independence
- They stabilize costs and reduce exposure to global crises
- They offer tangible benefits to people, from jobs to health to opportunity.
The transition is not uniform and challenges remain, especially in financing and infrastructure.
But as UN Secretary General António Guterres said, “the energy transition is unstoppable…Renewable energy can put power, literally and figuratively, in the hands of people and governments..”
Promoting other countries
Of course, not all countries benefit from reliable sources of hydroelectric and solar energy, nor the funds to exploit these renewable options.
Learn more about how other countries with fewer natural resources and larger populations are moving towards energy security in the second part of this UN News series on renewable energy.