The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has put energy security back at the center of the global energy agenda, raising concerns over oil and natural gas supplies while intensifying debate over how countries can address short-term risks without deepening long-term dependence on fossil fuels.
Disruptions in one of the world's key oil trade routes are increasing the risk of oil and natural gas supply disruptions, prompting energy-importing countries to consider alternative supplies and strategic reserves.
Alkim Bag, director of SHURA Energy Transition Center, told Anadolu that energy policies have long focused on security of supply and affordability, with sustainability added as the impacts of the climate crisis have intensified.
Bag said geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Hormuz crisis, new policy trends in the US and China's dominance of clean technology supply chains have "once again pushed security concerns to the top of the agenda."
She warned that turning to long-term fossil fuel investments in response to short-term security concerns could lock countries into prolonged dependence, increasing economic vulnerability and reliance on energy imports.
- Climate crisis threatens energy security
Bag said the climate crisis should not be sidelined in energy security discussions, noting that scientists say the 1.5-degree threshold has been exceeded.
"This means more heat waves, drought, water and food shortages, wildfires and, ultimately, mass migration," she said.
She said countries could respond to short-term supply risks by diversifying suppliers, using storage and activating idle domestic capacity, while new fossil fuel projects would take longer to deliver.
Bag said solar and wind could be deployed more rapidly and, when combined with storage, flexibility solutions and stronger grids, could improve energy system resilience.
"A lasting solution to energy security is not to increase dependence on fossil fuels again, but to accelerate the energy transition that will reduce the need for imported fossil fuels," she said.
- COP31 offers opportunity for common approach
Bag said COP31 presents an important opportunity to address energy security and climate goals within the same framework.
"I think the strongest message COP31 can deliver here is that energy security and climate goals are two parts of the same transformation strategy," she said.
She said investments in grids, storage and flexibility should be increased alongside renewable energy investments, adding that COP31 offers Türkiye an opportunity to approach the energy transition not only as a long-term climate goal, but also as a strategy for energy security, competitiveness and economic resilience.
"The real risk is not investing in energy security, but equating energy security with new and long-lived fossil fuel infrastructure investments," she stated.
By Humeyra Ayaz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
