COLLEGE PARK, MD – Today, as the UN Secretary General is delivering a special address in London on the global response to the climate and energy crises, the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) at the University of Maryland released a new report finding transitioning to clean technologies is increasingly being pursued as a fundamental strategy for energy security and affordability across countries in response to the global energy crisis. The report titled, "Accelerating the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in Response to the Global Energy Crisis with the Strait of Hormuz Closure," examines national policy responses, alongside the latest energy and trade data, to offer insights on how different countries are being impacted and are responding to the crisis.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 has caused widespread energy crises and economic disruptions across countries, which highlights again the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels rapidly and globally. In 2025, approximately 25% of seaborne oil was transported through the strait including 34% of global crude oil trade. Liquefied natural gas also relies heavily on the trade route, with 20% of global liquefied natural gas exports passing through the Strait.
The report finds energy security and affordability are major concerns across countries, no matter their relationship to the fossil fuel supply chain. In response, some countries have adopted near-term approaches that may further lock in fossil infrastructure, but many have accelerated their energy transitions. Renewable energy exports and electric vehicle sales grew dramatically within the first month of the crisis, suggesting that the transition to clean technologies is increasingly being pursued as part of the response to fossil fuel disruptions.
This report is being released alongside Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s special address on the global response to the climate and energy crises. During the address, Gutierrez pointed to the converging challenges facing climate and energy issues at a global scale. He outlined his vision for strengthening international cooperation to accelerate the clean energy transition, enhance energy security, support resilience and adaptation, and advance sustainable and inclusive economic growth in an increasingly volatile world.
“The responses we’ve seen to the global energy crisis indicate a general consensus that renewable technologies and the transition to clean energy are prime solutions for energy security and affordability concerns," CGS Associate Director and University of Maryland Associate Research Professor Dr. Ryna Cui said. “The world is facing a pivotal moment where countries must decide how they can minimize energy concerns moving forward. Investing in the development and implementation of these clean energy sources can support economic growth and prosperity of these nations in the long-term.”
CGS Founding Director Nate Hultman added, “High and volatile fossil fuel prices have been a wake-up call for countries around the world. The response is clear across so many national situations: new clean energy with solar, wind and battery storage, and associated electrified transportation can supply our needs more cheaply, quickly, and reliably than new or existing fossil energy in almost all circumstances. Even better, these resources are based in our own countries and with predictable energy security that does not depend on geopolitics.”
Access the full report here.
