Call for rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy across Asia
Sharif Jamil, Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, has called on Asian countries to urgently transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to ensure a sustainable future.
He made these remarks while addressing the plenary session of the “People’s Summit for a Fossil Free Future” held at the Magdalena University in Santa Marta, Colombia on 27 April 2026.
He participated in the conference as a representative of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD). The conference was jointly organized by Colombia and the Netherlands.
He emphasized that the question is not whether the transition will happen or not; rather, the question is how quickly this transition can be achieved before our survival period runs out. For Asia, this is not just a diplomatic issue, but a two-pronged struggle for survival. The Asian region is caught between the severe impact of the climate crisis on the one hand, and the collapse of an unstable energy system that has repeatedly failed.
Citing recent geopolitical tensions, particularly the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, he said that the perception of fossil fuels as a “reliable” source of energy has collapsed. Rising oil prices are now not just an economic concern, but a direct threat to national sovereignty and stability.
Asia, at the heart of this multifaceted crisis, is now struggling to ensure energy security. However, he warned against the trend of returning to coal, saying that this will only exacerbate climate disasters such as super typhoons, deadly heat waves and devastating floods. Switching from one fossil fuel to another is not a solution; rather, it creates another risk. Real energy security lies in indigenous, renewable and decentralized energy systems that can remain resilient even in the face of geopolitical instability.
Highlighting Asia’s progress, he noted that
Asia is expected to account for nearly 75% of global new renewable energy capacity in 2025 ; countries like Pakistan have saved more than $12 billion in import costs since 2018 as solar power expands in South Asia.and electric vehicle adoption in Nepal and Sri Lanka has reached 70% and 64%, respectively.
Bangladesh has achieved its 20% energy efficiency target for 2030 ahead of schedule through a national initiative; reducing fossil fuel use by more than $3 billion in import costs between 2023 and 2024 has saved more than $1.2 billion.
He concluded by saying that moving away from fossil fuels is not just an environmental imperative, but also a strategic path to economic independence. The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has created a “new reality” that signals the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era. Asian countries are now calling for a phased phase-out of fossil fuels in a planned, equitable and adequately funded way.
The region’s future stability must be built on clean energy – from rooftops and coastal areas, not coal, oil or gas. For Asia, a “just transition” is not just a climate goal; it is the only viable path to a future free from the burden of pollution and economic dependence on fossil fuels.
Global leaders of the climate justice movement spoke at the People’s Summit plenary session, including Luz Dary Carmona, Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Government of Colombia; Lidi Nakpil, Coordinator of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD); Tasnim Asop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) International; and Amaryllis Navarro, Co-Convenor of the People’s Summit for a Fossil-Free Future.
