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Scrolling news:

Russia: 93 people killed, 145 injured in concert hall terrorist attack, 11 arrested

Gaza: 82 Palestinians killed, 110 injured by Israeli bombings last 24 hours

Gaza: 100 Palestinians killed 92 injured by Israeli bombings last 24 hours

Gaza: 104 Palestinians killed, 162 injured by Israeli bombings last 24 hours

Gaza: 93 Palestinians killed, 142 injured by Israeli bombings last 24 hours

Gaza: 81 Palestinians killed, 116 injured by Israeli forces past 24 hours

Gaza: 92 Palestinians killed, 130 injured by Israeli forces last 24 hours

Gaza: 63 Palestinians killed, 112 wounded by Israeli attacks last 24 hours

Gaza: 149 Palestinians killed, 300 injured by Israeli forces last 24 hours

Gaza: 69 Palestinians killed, 100 injured by Israeli attacks last 24 hours

Gaza: 88 Palestinians killed, 135 injured by Israeli attacks last 24 hours

Gaza: 72 Palestinians killed, 129 injured by Israeli attacks last 24 hours

Gaza: 67 Palestinians killed, 106 injured by Israeli forces last 24 hours

UK: Ramadan messages from political leaders

Gaza: 85 Palestinians killed, 130 injured by Israeli attacks in last 24 hours

Gaza: 82 Palestinians killed, 122 injured by Israeli bombing in last 24 hours

Gaza: 78 Palestinians killed, 104 injured by Israeli bombing in last 24 hours

Gaza: 83 Palestinians killed, 143 injured by Israeli bombardments in last 24 hours

Gaza: 86 Palestinians killed, 113 injured by Israeli bombing last 24 hours

Gaza: 97 Palestinians killed, 123 injured by Israeli bombings in last 24 hours

Rethinking energy dependence: Will Ukraine war push Europe toward renewables or fossil fuels?

31st Mar 2022
Rethinking energy dependence: Will Ukraine war push Europe toward renewables or fossil fuels?

(Photo credit:Kenueone/Pixbay)

The outbreak of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions have caused Western nations to rethink their reliance on foreign energy. There has been a strong push for renewable energy production following climate conferences, but the infrastructure that relies on fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas remains in place, making it easier to rely on during rapid price shocks than to create a new infrastructure for renewables.

The US has pledged to stop importing Russian oil, while the EU sanctioned Russian oil companies Rosneft, Transneft, and Gazprom, clarifying that it was not barring EU companies from purchasing oil from Russia.

The European Commission announced plans to cut Russian gas imports by two-thirds by the end of the year. Germany halted certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which could transport 5.5 billion cubic metres of gas annually. The US received about 10% of its oil from Russia before the sanctions were put in place, but Europe contends with a much greater energy dilemma. EU nations get about 40% of their gas from Russia, while the UK gets around 5-8%.

Petrol prices have soared worldwide, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia are reluctant to increase production to reduce prices.

The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, went to the UAE and Saudi Arabia on March 16 to try to get a deal to increase oil production but failed in his mission. With gas prices already high this winter, consumers are feeling the strain, but support for Ukraine remains strong, and there is an understanding by the public of the need to sanction Russia to hinder war financing. The EU is looking to lessen the domestic impact by potentially subsidising consumers’ and companies’ high energy bills.

Germany has been supplementing its energy supplies by purchasing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar and the US. The UK is considering approving new licences to explore oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

This would require officials to amend the Climate Compatibility Checkpoints document, which requires that fossil fuel exploration be in line with the country’s climate goals. The move is criticised for hampering the UK’s ability to diplomatically push other nations to achieve their climate goals, and because it would not bring down consumers’ energy bills. The Government claims that any new licences would be subject to rigorous climate tests.

The UK announced that it will phase out Russian gas imports by the end of this year. Following the announcement, Shadow Secretary of State for Climate and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP, deemed it “the right decision” to “isolate the Putin regime,” adding that it will push the UK towards clean energy.

At the time, Miliband did not mention the proposal for the North Sea oil and gas exploration. Then, on March 15, at a meeting with MPs over fracking, Miliband stated that the Government is “completely all over the place” on fracking and on taking concrete steps to tackle the climate crisis.

Nations are looking to expand domestic fossil fuel extraction, to the dismay of environmental groups who point to the fact that such a move goes against the rhetoric of a transition to renewable energy and a green economy.

The Biden Administration is reluctant to expand fracking to export LNG abroad because of climate concerns and commitments, but by the end of the year, the US should have “the world’s greatest LNG export capacity, with seven export terminals and the ability to ship 11.5 billion cubic feet per day,” according to EuroNews. Though LNG is “cleaner” than coal or oil, fracking releases methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.

The pandemic shocked the globalised system of trade and caused nations to rethink their dependence on partners to receive basic goods and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Putin’s war has posed another shock to that system, though Western partners are creating stronger bonds to withstand the adverse effects. Green energy is an important step towards tackling the climate crisis, but many citizens support energy independence sooner rather than later, even if that means turning back towards fossil fuels in the short term to keep prices down.

Building infrastructure takes time, whether it is for renewables, or to expand fossil fuel extraction capabilities. Once oil licences are approved and pipelines are open, they are difficult to turn off.

Sarah Sakeena Marshall,
Korea Economic Institute Intern, American University’s School of International Service,
The Muslim News Environmental Columnist

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Over 120 people attended a landmark conference on the media reporting of Islam and Muslims. It was held jointly by The Muslim News and Society of Editors in London on September 15.

The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2015 was held on March in London to acknowledge British Muslim and non-Muslim contributions to the society.

The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2015 was held on March in London to acknowledge British Muslim and non-Muslim contributions to the society.

The Muslim News Awards for Excellence event is to acknowledge British Muslim and non-Muslim contributions to society. Over 850 people from diverse background, Muslim and non-Muslim, attended the gala dinner.

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