Clean energy and Russia

by Roebyem Anders, 1 March 2022

Putin’s horrific war in Ukraine is a double disaster. First of all for the Ukrainians: in recent days countless civilians have succumbed to Russian bombs and half a million people have now fled. At the same time, the war—quite rightly—takes the focus away from where it is most needed now: the climate. Putin’s blind aggression is not only forcing politicians in Europe and elsewhere to let everything fall out of their hands. It also completely shakes up assumptions about European security.

This has enormous consequences for climate investment. Germany has already announced that it wants to allocate 100 billion to strengthen its army. Many European countries, including the Netherlands, are likely to do the same. Hundreds of billions, in other words, can no longer be invested in the green energy transition and combating climate change.

This competition with defense spending could not have come at a worse time. The IPCC report that has just been published is bleaker than ever. Climate change is happening much faster than expected and the accumulation of mutually reinforcing effects is about to go crazy. UN chief António Guterres spoke of a “criminal” lack of leadership annd, just as many politicians are about to finally wake up, Putin—probably the most criminal leader of them all—is throwing a spanner in the works. 

We are not powerless. Putin’s problems and the climate are intertwined and partly have the same solution: use less oil and natural gas. We have known for a long time that Russia—as the main supplier of fossil fuels to Europe—has leverage over us. Our fossil fuel consumption is thus financing Europe’s own destabilization. Green energy policy is also a European security policy.

Moreover, green energy policy is not only a government matter, we can all contribute to it. Are you looking for a way to support Ukrainians? Hit Putin in his wallet and reduce your gas and gas consumption today. Install a solar water heater and panels, insulate your home, install a heat pump, buy an electric car. It can already be done, especially with the current sky-high gas and electricity prices. 

Help Ukraine, help the planet and help yourself.