Yevheniia Zasiadko, Campaign Manager at Razom We Stand

September 13th marks the beginning of Global Week of Action ​​for Climate Finance and a Fossil Free Future, a global initiative aimed at drawing attention to climate change and the urgent need for action. Russia’s war against Ukraine has become a clear example of how fossil fuels can serve as a weapon in the hands of an aggressor. The war in Ukraine highlights the need to phase out fossil fuels for the sake of security and global stability.

In the coming months, major international events will take place, including the UN General Assembly, the UN Summit of the Future, the Global Renewable Energy Summit, and the Conference of the Parties (COP29). All of these aim to find solutions to global challenges, including climate change, which involves phasing out fossil fuels to ensure peace and security.

The world once again felt the impact of climate change. Record-high temperatures were set in many parts of the world, causing extreme droughts. Europe faced an unprecedented heatwave, which also affected Ukraine, where temperatures exceeded 40°C for weeks, raising public health risks. Powerful hurricanes and floods hit South Asia and Central America. Once again, the Amazon rainforest suffered from massive wildfires. Governments are still searching for solutions and lagging behind in fulfilling their climate commitments. At the same time, Ukraine continues to fight an aggressor financed by the same fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels: The Driver of War

Russian profits from oil, gas, nuclear fuel, and coal since the start of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine have exceeded €201 billion for EU countries, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. In the week from August 26 to September 1, 2024, Russia exported fossil fuels worth approximately €4.55 billion: €2.02 billion in oil, €1.26 billion in petroleum products and chemicals, €0.8 billion in gas, and €0.47 billion in coal. Unfortunately, the EU is not the only entity purchasing fossil fuels from Russia; China, India, Turkey, and Brazil are in the top five nations that continue to do business with Russian energy. Continued fossil fuel purchases from these nations provide financial support for the ongoing war and daily attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Russia’s federal budget revenues from the oil and gas sector increased significantly, reaching $84.3 billion from January to August 2024, 56% higher than in the same period last year. These profits sustain Russia’s economy and sponsor the production and purchase of missiles, drones, and other military equipment. Therefore, the war could last much longer if the world does not stop buying Russian oil and gas.

Global Fight for the Phase Out of Fossil Fuels

This week, as part of the “Pay Up and Phase Out” campaign, we urge governments worldwide to end fossil fuel subsidies and redirect these funds towards developing renewable energy sources. Currently, countries around the world spend over $1 trillion annually subsidizing the coal, oil, and gas industries, which slows down the development of clean energy, exacerbates the climate crisis, and effectively supports destabilization and conflicts, as in the case of the war in Ukraine.

There are positive developments. Lithuania has completely abandoned Russian gas, diversifying its energy supply through renewable sources. Germany and Poland have reduced their imports of Russian fuel to a minimum, and the EU plans to stop importing Russian energy resources by 2027. This needs to happen sooner. The last 2.5 years have shown that what once seemed impossible is now feasible.

Ukraine’s partners must prevent a regression to 2022 and a return to dependency on Russian energy resources. In fact, this shift has already started. While Europe has reduced its resilience on pipeline gas, its imports of Russian LNG increased by 11% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

Ukraine’s Role and Security

Ukraine must take this opportunity for its own recovery and utilize its potential for the development of renewable energy. Unlike centralized energy systems, which Russia regularly attacks, decentralized renewable energy distributes capacity across the country, making it less vulnerable to attacks. One such attack occurred on September 13th, when the energy infrastructure in six regions was damaged. Solar panels on rooftops, small wind turbines, bioenergy plants, increased energy storage capacity, and smart grids can provide energy even in crises when extensive infrastructure is damaged.

Transitioning to renewable energy sources will reduce Ukraine’s dependence on fossil fuel imports, significantly cutting the country’s vulnerability to energy blackmail from Russia. Recently, Ukraine adopted its Energy and Climate Plan, setting a target of at least 27% renewable energy by 2030. This goal must be increased, and every effort should be made to achieve it, as the country’s energy security depends on it.

Global Week of Action for Climate Finance and a Fossil-Free Future is not only about climate change. It is about a future without wars, which can only be achieved through a global abandonment of fossil fuels. Ukraine must be at the forefront of the fight against fossil fuel use, continuing to push for stronger sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and investing in renewable energy sources.

The rejection of Russian fossil fuels and those from other countries with dictatorial regimes is a step towards peace, a secure future for Ukraine and global stability.