You can’t blow up the sun: 4 reasons renewables are a security imperative

Greenpeace Luxembourg activists call on the Luxembourg Minister of the Economy to demand the promotion of renewable energies.

I am living through my fourth war in my four decades on this planet.

Beyond the raw, immediate impact my family and I in Lebanon, and countless others are experiencing on the ground, I am watching a deeper crisis unfold at the global level.

Headlines are increasingly dominated by soaring oil and gas prices and market volatility. When the global economy is dependent on a centralised, combustible resource, missiles do more than just cut off power or disrupt shipping. They rock the very foundation of global stability.

When the global economy is dependent on a centralised, combustible resource, missiles do more than just cut off power or disrupt shipping. They rock the very foundation of global stability.

The current crisis is a tragic, undeniable argument for why we must accelerate the transition to Renewable Energy.

Renewables for resilience, independence and defence

Activists unfurled a banner outside the Bulgarian National Palace of Culture reading "Our Sun. Our Power. Our Future."

This isn't just about carbon emissions or climate targets. It's about resilience, security, and survival.

Here is why a decentralised, renewable-led transition is a path toward vital protection and economic security:

1. Strengthening the grid: You cannot "blow up" the sun. It is incredibly difficult to disable a decentralised network of millions of rooftop solar panels. Distributed energy is inherently more resilient to sabotage than a handful of massive, vulnerable thermal plants.
2. Ending energy dependency: Conflict brings blockades and supply chain collapses. A country that produces its own power from its own sun and wind cannot be held hostage by disrupted shipping lanes or volatile oil markets.
3. Economic sovereignty: As prices soar, nations relying on imported fuels face crippling inflation. Transitioning to local renewables acts as a "hedge" against war driven shocks, keeping costs predictable for families when they are most vulnerable.
4. Decentralisation as defence: By removing "single points of failure", we ensure that hospitals, schools, and homes can maintain power even if the national grid is compromised.

Not just energy goal but security imperative

We've long advocated for energy sovereignty, but the current situation proves this isn't a "green" luxury. It is a strategic necessity.

People formed a human banner in Casablanca, Morocco with the message "Break Free - go solar."

The transition to renewables is often framed as a climate goal. But in a region where stability is fragile, it is also a security imperative.

We need to build energy systems that are as resilient as the people who rely on them. Renewables are the best (and much needed) way to make that happen.

Climate Justice Camp in Lebanon (August 2023) led by climate groups across MENA.

Julien Jreissati is Programme Director at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, based in Lebanon.