Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The ongoing global energy crisis linked to the Iran conflict has revealed that energy systems reliant on fossil fuels are inherently volatile and unstable, according to Selwin Hart, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Climate Action and the Just Transition.
In Santa Marta, Colombia, a diplomatic event called the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) brought together representatives from over 53 countries—including fossil fuel producers, consumers, academia, the private sector, and civil society—to chart a roadmap toward sustainable economies.
Mr. Hart highlighted that about three out of every four people live in nations that are net importers of fossil fuels, exposing them to energy shocks beyond their control. He stated that reducing fossil fuel dependence is a security, economic, and development imperative.
He emphasized the advantages of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, noting that they offer stability, sovereignty, and enable control over national energy futures—especially significant as nearly 800 million people globally still lack access to electricity.
Hart further pointed out that renewable energy has no embargoes, price shocks, tariffs, or tolls, underscoring the critical need to overcome opposition from political and economic groups delaying the transition by casting doubt on scientific and economic data.