Energy Security and the Green Transition – One or the Other? Or Both?

As the world marks Earth Day 2025 under the theme Our Power, Our Planet, the focus is clear: uniting behind the clean energy transition. Last year alone, almost $2 trillion was invested in clean energy globally, breaking records.  

Despite this surge, one questions remains: Can countries pursue climate goals and accelerate the energy transition without compromising national energy security? The short answer: they must. 

However, the road to balancing both is complex, shaped by geopolitical shifts, uneven global investment, technological innovation, and urgent policy decisions. 

Clean Energy is Accelerating – But will it keep Pace?  

According to BloombergNEF, clean hydrogen production capacity is forecasted to reach 16 million metric tons annually by 2030 - a staggering leap forward. Investment is also pouring into battery storage, low-carbon fuels, solar, and wind, all of which are critical enablers of a decarbonised energy system. 

But is momentum guaranteed? 

Despite collective ambition, uncertainty remains. Supply chain bottlenecks, rising interest rates, and geopolitical tensions continue to challenge the pace of progress. Many experts warn that these pressures could slow down the clean energy transition. 

In this evolving landscape, policymakers and investors must focus not only on scaling renewables, but also on ensuring energy reliability and affordability. That means investing in grid infrastructure, system flexibility, and energy storage alongside clean energy deployment. It is where ambition meets resilience.  

The Role of Emerging Markets in the Global Energy Transition 

One of the key challenges facing the global energy transition is the imbalance in investment flows. Despite being pivotal to achieving global climate and energy goals -and facing rapidly growing energy demand - emerging markets and developing economies continue to receive a disproportionately small share of clean energy investment. This investment gap not only slows progress in regions that stand to gain the most from clean energy access but also poses a risk on global net-zero goals.  

While countries like Brazil, Kenya, and Kazakhstan are advancing clean energy initiatives, such as wind, geothermal, and bioenergy technologies, these efforts require substantial support. The IEA also notes that approximately 35% of the emissions reductions needed to achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions globally by mid-century must come from technologies that are not yet commercially available.​ Addressing this investment gap is essential for a just and inclusive energy transition.  

How does this threaten energy security? Without investment in clean, reliable, and affordable energy infrastructure, emerging markets will remain dependent on fossil fuel imports. This makes them more susceptible to price volatility and supply disruptions. According to the IEA, this also limits the development of flexible, resilient energy systems that can withstand geopolitical tensions and climate related challenges, leaving these regions with energy insecurity.  

Energy Security in an Age of Geopolitical Instability 

Navigating the energy transition requires finance and policy to move in lockstep. To meet global climate and energy security goals, the financial ecosystem must align behind a common agenda: mobilising capital, reducing risk, and accelerating investment in clean energy at scale. Strategies such as blended finance, transition bonds, and supportive industrial policy will be key to unlocking progress, particularly in emerging markets.

The good news? There is growing recognition that the energy transition is energy security - when it is inclusive, resilient, and backed by long-term financial and policy frameworks. Does that answer the question, can we achieve the green transition without compromising energy security? Or are we asking the wrong question entirely? 

Sustainable Investment Forum Europe and Nature Finance Forum Europe 

The Sustainable Investment Forum Europe and Nature Finance Forum Europe place these challenges centre stage - mobilising capital for a just energy transition and scaling finance for nature-positive solutions. At their core, both forums aim to turn ambition into action.