{"id":74236,"date":"2025-04-25T11:32:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T09:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=74236"},"modified":"2025-04-25T11:32:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T09:32:29","slug":"fossil-fuels-are-a-threat-to-our-security-heres-6-reasons-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/74236\/fossil-fuels-are-a-threat-to-our-security-heres-6-reasons-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Fossil fuels are a threat to our security \u2013 here’s 6 reasons why"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Protest
Greenpeace activists at a protest march on March, 27th 2024 against the Gas Industry in Vienna.
\u00a9 Rafael Bittermann \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

About 80%<\/a> of the world’s energy still comes from fossil fuels. This reliance is a huge risk for us. Not just because gas<\/a>, oil and coal are fuelling the climate crisis, but also because it makes us unsafe in many ways. Real energy security can only be achieved with 100 % renewables. Here’s why.<\/p>\n\n

1. Fossil fuels threaten national sovereignty and security<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Some countries have a lot of fossil fuel resources, others don’t. In a world where the majority of energy comes from fossil fuels, fossil fuel rich countries hold the power. Major oil and gas economies<\/a> have been able to act with impunity, with the examples of Russia<\/a> or the US<\/a> flouting global mechanisms like the International Criminal Court, and Saudi Arabia or the US bullying poorer nations at the annual UN global climate talks<\/a> (UNFCCC COP). Trump\u2019s attempts to pressure the EU<\/a> into new gas deals, using tariff threats and flouting World Trade Organisation rules, is another perfect illustration.<\/p>\n\n

Whether it’s oligarchs funding wars or political strongmen using gas as leverage, fossil fuel dependency makes democracies weaker, not stronger.<\/p>\n\n

2. Oil and gas corporations cash in, household budgets suffer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

In 2022, the five biggest oil and gas companies (BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and TotalEnergies) together posted $200 billion in profits<\/a>. Some made record-breaking earnings while ordinary households were drowning in skyrocketing energy bills, contributing to the cost-of-living crisis. As war, inflation, and corporate greed drove up prices millions of people struggled. Electricity and gas prices have jumped by around 50%<\/a> for European consumers in recent years, and more than 1 in 10 Europeans<\/a> can no longer afford to heat their homes. Renewables are already cheaper than gas power generation<\/a> and they proved to push down the wholesale prices of electricity<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

The fossil fuel system is built for profit, not for people.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Greenpeace International \ud83c\udf0d (@greenpeace)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n