Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies

"There is no security without energy security.” This is how Dr William Gillett, Director of the EASAC Energy Programme, summarises the 2025 report ‘Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies’, written by experts from Europe’s national science academies. Europe’s greatest insecurity stems from its dependence on imported fossil fuels, mainly oil and gas. This dependency exposes the continent to geopolitical blackmail and makes it economically vulnerable. Only a well-managed transition to sustainable domestic energy and innovative technologies made in Europe can offer a secure and prosperous future.

Growing geopolitical tensions combined with high dependencies on imported fuels, raw materials and technologies are an increasing threat to European energy security. The weaponising of energy by autocratic regimes through trade disruptions, physical attacks on infrastructure, and growing numbers of cyber-attacks are increasing not only the risk of interruptions to Europe’s energy supplies but also energy prices. High and volatile energy prices are reducing investor confidence, jeopardising the competitiveness of European industries, and driving millions of vulnerable European households into energy poverty.

Respond to the threat: transition to energy made in Europe

Russia's attack on Ukraine is funded by exports of fossil fuels, so Europe must stop buying Russian energy. Since 2022, the EU has done a lot to drive this process forward by diversifying its gas supplies and increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, it is particularly important not to shift import dependence from Russian gas to import dependence on LNG from another third country, such as the USA, with all the associated risks. 

The report emphasises the urgent need to address the growing threats to energy security and explains how this can be done by accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. "The Green Deal, followed by the recent Clean Industrial Deal, are Europe's best weapons in the fight to protect its sovereignty. Energy produced by wind and solar does not have to be imported," emphasises Prof. Paula Kivimaa from Finland, Co-Chair of the EASAC working group. "Every investment in sustainable energy is an investment in our security. In contrast, every euro we spend on energy imports is a euro lost from our defence capability."