Environmental Issues between the Conflict Over Fossil Energy and the Inevitability of Renewable Energy

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide an analysis of the relationship between environmental issues, fossil fuel consumption rates, and economic practices. All environmental protection initiatives remain hostage to strategic calculations, the crisis of the transition to renewable energy, and the state’s public policy priorities.

Study Objectives:Through an interpretive and methodological approach, this study aims to: First: shed light on the relationship between environmental practices and the environment through the concept of economic growth rates and fossil energy consumption, and analyze the relationship of influence and impact between the environment, economy, and energy triad.

Second: employ a political-economic approach through countries geostrategic calculations to provide an explanation for current wars and conflicts.

Theoretical Framework and Methodology:The methodological and theoretical framework adopted to analyze the study topic includes the following: 

First: The descriptive-analytical approach, which helps describe, analyze, and predict by identifying its characteristics and dimensions, describing the
relationships between its variables, and their correlation symbols, with the aim of arriving at a comprehensive scientific description. This approach is
considered one of the most important scientific approaches adopted in studying phenomena.

Second: The interpretive approach: To build a logical structure to describe and explain the relationship between the environment and energy, we relied on the economic-political approach, based on the realism of the concept of state interests and conflicts over energy resources.

Results and Discussion: From the approach used, it can be concluded that countries are unable to overcome the dominance of fossil fuels over their
economies, which drives them to conflict over oil and gas resources, at least in the foreseeable future. Despite the environmental crisis, countries’ geostrategic calculations drive them to exploit the environment to achieve their interests and ensure their influence.

Therefore, environmental issues in securing energy resources are evident as one of the most significant obstacles to reaching a comprehensive and binding agreement between major powers. Each country seeks to negotiate with the least possible responsibility and cost. Therefore, countries view environmental negotiations either as a means to weaken their economy, thereby diminishing their influence and role, or as an opportunity to weaken other competing powers regionally and internationally.

Research Content: Using a political-economic approach, the study focuses on statistical data to examine the relationship between economic growth and energy consumption, and countries’ economic calculations for maintaining their influence. Accordingly, energy resources influence the orientations of their foreign policies and the limits of this influence. By energy resources, we mean traditional energy sources, specifically oil and natural gas, which constitute a significant axis of economic growth and foreign policy, making them clearly influential in countries’ geostrategic calculations.

Originality/Value: The originality and value of the study lie in establishing an explanatory correlation between fossil energy consumption rates, economic growth, and the contradictions in the use of environmental issues within geostrategic calculations.