Global Energy Clash: UK Summit Champions Renewables Amid Fierce Criticism

 In a dazzling yet contentious gathering, the United Kingdom hosted the Global Energy Summit in London on April 22, 2025, rallying world leaders to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, even as critics launched a fierce assault on green policies.

 Prime Minister Keir Starmer, addressing delegates from 50 nations, unveiled a £22 billion investment in wind, solar, and hydrogen, aiming to slash carbon emissions by 2030. The summit, attended by figures like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of the WTO, spotlighted renewables as the linchpin of global energy security, but faced a storm of dissent from fossil fuel advocates and skeptical policymakers.

Starmer’s keynote, reported by Reuters, emphasized renewables’ role in combating climate change, with the UK’s new publicly owned GB Energy company tasked with doubling onshore wind capacity. Innovations like floating wind farms and green hydrogen projects drew applause, yet critics, including Tory MPs, decried the “unrealistic” pace of phasing out gas and oil. Protests outside the summit, led by energy security groups, warned of job losses in traditional energy sectors, while a Telegraph report highlighted concerns over grid reliability during low-wind periods. Developing nations, meanwhile, demanded more funding to adopt renewables, a plea echoed by Okonjo-Iweala.

The summit’s timing, post-COP29, amplified its urgency, with Starmer pledging to restore UK climate leadership. However, the backlash underscored global divisions, with some delegates arguing that fossil fuels remain vital for energy-poor regions. The UK’s commitment to 95% clean power by 2030 hangs in the balance, as does its influence on global energy policy.