---
title: "The Energy Security We Need Is Already Here: Five Frontline Stories of Renewables in Action"
date: 2026-09-16T15:46:24Z
modified: 2026-09-16T15:46:24Z
permalink: "https://350.org/press-release/the-energy-security-we-need-is-already-here-five-frontline-stories-of-renewables-in-action/"
type: press-release
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 175531880
author: kimbryan
timestamp: 2026-09-16T15:46:24Z
tags: []
---

Ahead of the UN General Assembly and Global Renewables Summit in New York next week, [350.org](http://350.org/) and Global Energy Monitor brought together frontline stories from five different places showing what renewable energy can deliver for energy security, access, investment and jobs, and what’s blocking actual delivery.

This is the first time world leaders will meet at UNGA since the start of the current fossil fuel crisis, the biggest in history – a crisis that has made it starkly clear that fossil fuels don’t mean security, for countries or for families around the world. [According to 350.org estimates](https://350.org/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/press-release/us-iran-mou-signals-normalization-but-higher-fossil-fuel-prices-will-cost-over-700-billions-in-2026.md), higher oil and gas prices driven by the Hormuz crisis had already shifted hundreds of billions of dollars from households and businesses to the oil and gas industry, with the total cost projected to reach US$670-700 billion by the end of the year.

From Pakistan to East Africa and Brazil, speakers showed that the sun and the wind are the true source of energy security, providing lower energy costs, less exposure to imported fuels and more local economic value. They also showed that renewables are gaining momentum: political will is moving in the right direction – but implementation is lagging behind, held back by factors governments and financial institutions have the power to resolve: expensive and inaccessible finance, outdated grid and distribution infrastructure, outdated regulation that benefits centralized energy systems and prevents the expansion of solutions like rooftop solar, mini-grids and community energy.

Renewable potential is no longer the main constraint – the battle is increasingly over finance, grids, regulation, and who benefits from what gets built. [350.org](http://350.org/) urges governments to use the time between UNGA and COP31 to make clear how they will accelerate renewable electrification, make clean power affordable and accessible, and turn fossil fuel phase out promises into credible national roadmaps.

This is the real test for the months ahead: not another 2030 target, or another assessment of renewable potential, but a detailed, equitable and actionable plan for phasing out fossil fuels and scaling up renewables – fast and fair.

**Anne Jellema, Executive Director, at [350.org.](http://350.org/)**

“The fossil-fuel crisis has rewritten the energy-security debate. Together, these stories show that renewables aren’t simply an alternative to fossil fuels, they are an opportunity to build a better energy system. One that is cleaner, more affordable and more resilient.

Technology is moving fast. Communities are ready. But political delivery is lagging behind. From New York to COP31, governments now need to show how quickly they can match that momentum with the investment, infrastructure and policies needed to unlock the full potential of renewable energy.”

**Rukiya Khamis, [350.org](http://350.org/) East Africa.**

“To build a resilient East Africa, we need to redefine what energy progress actually looks like. Multi-billion-dollar export schemes and mega-projects may look impressive on paper, but it is small, distributed solar, hydro and wind that can tackle energy poverty on the ground today.

A real energy transition is not simply about adding more gigawatts. It means investing in stronger transmission and distribution networks, integrating battery storage, and fixing regulatory systems that are holding back affordable, locally owned clean energy.

Above all, our leaders must put communities at the centre. Local access and affordability must come before foreign export pipelines and extractive projects, whether fossil fuel developments or top-down renewable schemes that displace communities and increase climate vulnerability.

True energy security is not measured by how much energy a country exports. It is measured by whether every household has reliable, affordable, clean power. That means putting people and the planet before profit.”

**Dr Omais Abdur Rehman, Renewables First, Pakistan.**

“Pakistan’s energy transition is no longer waiting on the government, with households and businesses importing 55 GW of solar and deploying 38 GW since 2018 while battery storage imports surged 220 percent in a single year. This bottom up shift has already cut the fossil fuel import bill by 40 percent and saved over 12 billion dollars, even as rising electricity prices push families to spend more on power and less on food, health and education. What happens next depends on policy catching up with this pace, through flexible grid planning, an end to taxation on solar, wind, battery storage and EVs, and targeted support so that this transition includes rather than abandons those who cannot yet afford to go solar.”

**Noel Rosal, Governor of Albay, Philippines.**

“Albay is ready to lead, but we cannot do this alone. To the global community, to partners and to investors: support Albay not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. That means making green finance directly accessible to provincial and local governments, with simpler procedures and fairer terms. It means democratising technology, sharing knowledge, transferring skills and building local capacity so renewable energy serves people, not just markets.

And it means backing community-led models. When communities have a meaningful role in owning and shaping their energy future, they are better placed to protect it and sustain it. Albay has the ambition to deliver a 100% renewable future. What we need now are the tools, resources and partnerships to make it possible and to show the world what a genuinely community-led energy transition can look like.”

**Dean Bhebhe Bhekumuzi, Africa Change Lab West Africa.**

“Africa’s energy sovereignty will not be determined simply by how many people we connect to electricity, but by the value we are able to create from the energy systems we build. The strategic imperative is therefore to move beyond access towards productive energy; regionalising renewable resources, connecting markets and investing in the infrastructure that allows energy to power industry, trade and economic transformation. Cross-border transmission, integrated power pools and coordinated investment can turn Africa’s geographically dispersed renewable potential into a shared strategic asset, strengthening both economic resilience and regional sovereignty.”

**Victoria Santos, Clima e Sociedade, Brazil.**

“Brazil has one of the world’s cleanest power systems and vast potential to expand renewable generation, especially in its Northeast region. The Powershoring Forum brings together government, business, finance, and civil society to turn that clean energy advantage into low carbon industries, investment, and quality jobs. For us, powershoring goes beyond generating clean power, it means using abundant renewables to build competitive industries and create lasting development where that energy is produced.”

According to [Global Energy Monitor’s latest update in February 2026,](https://globalenergymonitor.org/projects/global-solar-power-tracker) global operating wind and solar capacity has surpassed 3 Terawatts (TW), with nearly 5 TW currently in the pipeline. Global operating solar capacity alone has crossed 2 TW, while prospective utility-scale solar capacity grew by 17% to exceed 2.2 TW. Distributed solar now accounts for roughly 42% of all operational and prospective solar capacity worldwide, highlighting its vital potential to help meet the 2030 target of tripling global renewable energy capacity. Meanwhile, global operating wind capacity exceeds 1.1 TW, with another 2.7 TW in the pipeline.

Many regions are showing fast growth in renewable energy: Brazil holds nearly 114 Gigawatts (GW) of planned offshore wind capacity, the largest in the world. On a regional level, the West African Power Pool boasts nearly 12 GW of utility-scale solar in the pipeline across 14 countries. In East Africa, combined operating and prospective solar capacity stands at over 3 GW.

In Asia, Pakistan highlights the power of civil society-driven adoption of distributed solar, which helped shield the nation from severe fuel crisis shocks from the Persian Gulf region this year. Furthermore, its historically fossil fuel-heavy provinces such as Sindh show tremendous solar and wind potential estimated between 11 GW and 50 GW, offering a prime opportunity to establish renewable energy as a key economic pillar. In Albay, Philippines, the Provincial Governor noted that the province possesses nearly 1 TW of untapped technical renewable energy potential across solar, wind, and geothermal resources.

None of these regions lack renewable energy resources, and they are already attracting strong interest from stakeholders and developers. Establishing proper financing mechanisms and robust grid infrastructure will be key to accelerating this transition.

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