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Nigeria wastes an estimated 250–300 million standard cubic feet per day of gas through flaring and leakage, representing an annual economic loss of USD 1.2–2.5 billion. The policy brief argues that capturing at least 50% of this wasted methane could unlock USD 1.5–2 billion in annual value and create 50,000–80,000 technical jobs. The proposed strategy focuses on a phased approach from 2026 to 2033, prioritising measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and the conversion of methane into power, CNG, and micro-LNG. To succeed, the document recommends establishing a Methane Governance Council to resolve regulatory fragmentation and integrating the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) into the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) framework.

Nigeria wastes an estimated 250–300 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas through flaring and leakage, representing an annual loss of USD 1.2–2.5 billion. The policy brief argues that capturing and commercialising at least 50% of this wasted methane could unlock USD 1.5–2 billion in annual value, create 50,000–80,000 technical jobs, and improve public health by reducing ground-level ozone pollution. The proposed strategy focuses on existing and legacy infrastructure to avoid fossil fuel lock-in, utilizing low-cost measures like leak detection and repair (LDAR). Implementation is planned across three phases from 2026 to 2033, requiring a unified governance framework and robust measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems to attract climate finance and carbon credits.

Ember's analysis reveals a significant gap between planned renewable energy expansion and available grid capacity in Europe, with at least 120 GW of projects at risk. While some distribution grids can support household electrification, transmission bottlenecks threaten large-scale wind and solar projects, particularly in countries like Austria, Bulgaria, and Poland. The report advocates for 'non-wire solutions' and administrative reforms to unlock capacity and ensure energy security.

The report outlines a five-step strategy for the European Union to achieve energy sovereignty by transitioning away from fossil fuel imports, which currently account for nearly 60% of its primary energy supply. It emphasizes that 89% of final energy demand can be met through electrification using existing technologies, which would significantly lower exposure to supply shocks since 81% of electricity production is domestic. The document proposes specific actions: accelerating electrification, interconnecting the European power grid, deploying energy storage to replace gas for balancing, decarbonizing heavy industry, and using the EU Methane Regulation to phase out high-risk imports from suppliers like Russia and the United States. Financially, the report notes that EU clean energy investments reached approximately 346 billion euros in 2025, but argues that 1,500 billion euros per year are needed until 2050 to complete the transition.

The report outlines a five-step strategy for the EU to transition from risky fossil fuel imports to domestic clean energy, emphasizing electrification, grid connectivity, flexibility, industrial decarbonization, and the use of the EU Methane Regulation to phase out high-emission imports.

The policy brief asserts that the European Union's reliance on fossil fuel imports—nearly 60% of its primary energy supply—creates critical vulnerabilities. It proposes a five-step strategy focusing on electrification, grid interconnection, flexible energy systems, industrial decarbonization, and the use of the EU Methane Emissions Regulation (MER) to phase out high-risk suppliers. The document highlights that 89% of final energy demand can be electrified with current technology, which would significantly reduce exposure to external shocks and improve industrial competitiveness.

The report identifies the EU's reliance on fossil fuel imports—nearly 60% of primary energy supplies—as a structural geopolitical risk. It proposes a five-step framework (Electrify, Connect, Flex, Decarbonise, and Shield) to enhance energy sovereignty. Key recommendations include increasing electrification, expanding the interconnected grid, deploying energy storage, decarbonising heavy industry, and using the EU Methane Emissions Reduction (MER) regulation to phase out high-risk suppliers like Russia and the USA. The document emphasizes that while clean energy investments reached approximately 346 billion EUR in 2025, they must scale to 1.5 trillion EUR annually by 2050 to achieve the transition.

The European Union remains vulnerable to global energy shocks due to a high dependency on fossil fuel imports, nearly 60% of its primary energy supply. While the EU has reduced reliance on Russian gas, it has increased exposure to US LNG, which the report identifies as a significant political and economic risk. To achieve energy sovereignty, the report proposes five key actions: accelerating electrification (where 89% of demand is technically electrifiable), enhancing grid interconnectivity, deploying energy storage and demand flexibility, decarbonising heavy industry through green public procurement and product mandates, and leveraging the EU Methane Regulation (EU MER) to disincentivise high-emitting imports. Financing this transition will require an average of EUR1.5tn per year through 2050, primarily driven by private capital and the GSS+ bond market.

The document advocates for legislative bans on advertising for fossil fuel-intensive goods and services, arguing that such measures are essential for demand reduction and public health. It frames the current energy crisis—caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—as a critical window for governments to remove contradictory messaging that stimulates fossil fuel consumption while citizens are asked to reduce use.

Between 2021 and 2024, 24 major European banks provided US$41.9 billion to companies developing new gas plants, with 63% of this funding coming from seven banks in France and the UK. The report contends that gas power is not a 'transition fuel' but a source of severe air pollution, price volatility, and long-term greenhouse gas emissions lock-in. It highlights that 78% of this financing is directed toward OECD and European countries, where power sectors are expected to be carbon neutral by 2035. The document concludes that banks must immediately end financial services to gas power expansion to align with a 1.5°C warming limit.

The report advocates for reconductoring as a primary solution to the U.S. energy grid's capacity crisis, which currently stalls 2,500 GW of clean energy projects. By replacing traditional steel-core cables with advanced composite conductors, the grid can double its transfer capacity at less than half the cost of building new lines, with installation times of 18-36 months compared to 10-15 years for new construction. The document highlights the potential for $180 billion in system savings by 2050 and a 3-4% reduction in wholesale electricity costs. It details technical improvements, such as trapezoidal wires and carbon-fiber cores, and cites successful implementations in Texas, Nevada, California, and Minnesota, as well as international adoption in Europe and Asia. The report concludes by urging policymakers to support legislation like the High-Capacity Grid Act and the REWIRE Act to incentivize the adoption of these technologies.

The document examines how reliance on imported oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exposes Asian economies to price shocks and supply disruptions, particularly those stemming from conflicts in the Middle East. It analyzes the economic impacts on countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Japan, highlighting how fuel price volatility drives inflation and weakens currencies. The report argues that returning to coal as a short-term fallback is economically and environmentally risky compared to renewables. It recommends investing in regional connected grids and clean technology supply chains to build long-term resilience and energy security.

The IISD recommends that the EU uphold its commitment to keep oil, coal, and gas in the ground within the Arctic to align with net-zero pathways, reduce geopolitical security risks associated with the Barents Sea, and protect fragile ecosystems from oil spills and noise pollution. The document further suggests a clear phase-out timeline for fossil fuel imports originating from north of the Arctic Circle, including the northern Norwegian and Barents seas, to maintain the EU's credibility as a climate leader alongside partners like Canada and Greenland.

Solar growth in South Asia is reducing the power sector's exposure to global fossil fuel price shocks, though the pace varies by country. In Pakistan, rooftop solar generation grew from 7.7 TWh in 2022 to 36.6 TWh in 2025, saving an estimated USD 12 billion in LNG imports. In contrast, Bangladesh increased its reliance on coal, with generation rising from 7.87 TWh to 30.06 TWh between 2022 and 2025. While the power sector is diversifying, the region remains highly dependent on imported oil and gas for transport and industry. The report suggests that electrifying these end-uses and expanding regional electricity trade—with India as a hub—are essential to further cutting import costs and improving energy security.

The report highlights the systemic risks of fossil fuel dependency, noting that three-quarters of the global population live in importing countries that spent $1.7 trillion on imports in 2024. It argues that the current crisis in the Middle East, particularly the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, serves as a catalyst for Asia to transition to electric technologies. The document asserts that scaling EVs, solar, wind, and heat pumps could reduce fossil fuel import bills by approximately 70%, with EVs already displacing 1.7 million barrels of oil per day in 2025.

The EU significantly expanded its renewable energy capacity between 2022 and 2025, with solar PV reaching 406 GW and wind reaching 246 GW. This transition reduced the bloc's reliance on imported fossil fuels, saving an estimated EUR 58 billion in coal and gas import costs. While countries like Spain have successfully delinked electricity prices from gas costs, others like Italy remain highly vulnerable due to continued dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly during the 2026 Strait of Hormuz blockade.

Conflict in the Middle East is disrupting critical energy imports to Bangladesh, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to fuel rationing, power cuts, and industrial shutdowns. ZCA analysis indicates that sustained high prices for oil, gas, and coal could increase Bangladesh's annual fossil fuel import bill by USD 4.8 billion (a 40% increase from 2025 levels), further straining foreign exchange reserves. The document argues that this recurring volatility, echoing the shocks from the Russia-Ukraine war, underscores the urgent need for Bangladesh to pivot toward renewable energy to avoid long-term fiscal distress and energy insecurity.

Vietnam's solar power generation helps the country avoid approximately USD 594 million in fossil fuel import costs during the current energy price surge driven by the Iran war. While Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in solar and wind shares, it continues to prioritize coal and gas in its long-term power planning, increasing its vulnerability to global price shocks.

A conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, the US, and Iran has caused global fossil fuel supply disruptions, leading to a nearly 50% increase in European gas prices in early March 2026. The briefing highlights that the EU's fossil import bill rose by an estimated €2.5 billion in the first ten days of the crisis. It argues that countries with high gas reliance for electricity, such as Italy, are most exposed to price spikes, while those that have decoupled gas from electricity prices, like Spain, are more resilient. The author contends that electricity market reforms or removing carbon costs (EU-ETS) are less effective than investing in renewables and clean flexibility to ensure long-term energy security.

A conflict in the Middle East in March 2026 caused European gas prices to spike by nearly 50%, increasing the EU's fossil import bill by €2.5 billion in ten days. The report highlights that countries with lower gas reliance, such as Spain, are more insulated from electricity price hikes than gas-heavy markets like Italy. It argues against suspending carbon costs under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, noting that gas volatility has a far greater impact on bills than carbon pricing.