QAZAQ GREEN.  The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released a new policy advisory making the case for renewable energy as a cornerstone of national energy security amid the ongoing global energy crisis.

The brief, addressed to policy makers worldwide, sets out immediate and longer-term actions to shield countries from energy market volatility and redirect economic recovery toward greater resilience and independence from fossil fuels.

Renewables are already delivering results. From Spain and Portugal to China, India and Pakistan, countries are cutting their reliance on imported hydrocarbons. Global renewable capacity additions reached a record 692 GW in 2025, and more than 85% of new renewable projects now come in cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Since 2010, the cost of solar has dropped by 87%, onshore wind by 55%, and battery storage by 93%.

"The current crisis clearly demonstrates the strategic case for renewables as a national security imperative," said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. Governments, he urged, must act quickly to channel investment and emergency responses toward accelerating renewable deployment and the electrification of energy-intensive sectors.

The conflict in the Middle East has exposed the structural fragility of energy systems still dependent on oil and gas. The fallout extends well beyond energy markets — feeding inflation and dampening economic activity, with the heaviest burden falling on the world's most vulnerable communities.

IRENA's recommended actions span three horizons. In the near term: scale up distributed renewables, cut demand through public campaigns, roll out time-of-use tariffs, and expand solar-battery hybrid mini-grids in off-grid areas. In the medium term: fast-track renewable and grid projects, expand storage capacity, and support transport electrification. Over the longer term: build stable policy frameworks to attract investment, integrate electrification into national planning, and develop domestic supply chains.