UN: fossil‑fuel reliance 'delusional'
UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the Iran war–driven energy shock proves relying on fossil fuels is “delusional,” pressing for a faster renewables shift as supply shocks force a rethink of energy security. The warning comes amid EU splits — countries like Italy and Hungary are pushing to relax climate rules to protect energy‑intensive industry, risking reputational and policy backsliding after COP30. ( )
Simon Stiell delivered a keynote at the Green Growth Summit in Brussels on 16 March 2026. (unfccc.int) The UNFCCC noted Europe’s fossil‑fuel import bill amounted to over €420 billion in 2024. (unfccc.int) European Commission data shows the bloc’s fossil‑fuel import bill receded to about €427 billion in 2024 after peaking at €604 billion in 2022. (energy.ec.europa.eu) Market moves were sharp: Bruegel recorded oil up roughly 8% and European gas benchmarks climbing about 20% on 2 March amid the Iran strikes, while CSIS calculated Brent rose $12.93 (18%) in the first week of the conflict. (bruegel.org) (csis.org) The EU’s proposed 2040 target — a 90% cut in emissions — encountered holdouts including Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland during late‑2025 negotiations. (politico.eu) Italy’s government publicly called in early March 2026 for suspending or overhauling the EU Emissions Trading System to shield industry from higher power costs. (politico.eu) The Commission’s Clean Industry/REPowerEU analysis projects measures could shave about €45 billion off the EU’s fossil‑fuel import bill in 2025 and deliver roughly €130 billion in annual savings by 2030. (ec.europa.eu) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would propose emergency steps to mitigate surging energy costs as markets reacted to the Iran conflict. (msn.com)
