In 2022, for the first time in many decades, the number of people in the world without access to electricity increased. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic coupled with high energy prices have taken their toll, and globally the number of people without access to electricity has increased by about 20 million to a total of 774 million people. Africa is still among the hardest hit continents in terms of access to energy. Could renewable energy be the solution to wider energy access in Africa?

Czechia, like other member states of the European Union, must increasingly deal with the socio-economic effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine and also with its dependence on fossil fuels. Against the background of the ongoing energy crisis, the burning issue of energy poverty is therefore coming to the fore, which traditionally adds a human dimension to the traditionally rather security and technical issue of energy.

Deployment of renewable energy can provide enormous benefits for local populations and economies, creating value for both the natural environment and society. This is especially true when compared to fossil energy sources and the traditional use of biomass. Research on the impacts of renewables emphasises their multiple socio-economic benefits, far beyond their potential to mitigate climate change. Deployment of renewables creates employment opportunities and contributes to growth in gross domestic product. The energy transition is projected to result in a global net gain in employment, with more jobs created by ramping up renewable capacity than lost by phasing out fossil energy.

Jordan is among the most dependent countries on the import of energy resources (mainly oil and natural gas) from abroad in the MENA region. Therefore, the import of energy represents a large burden on the state budget. Energy demand associated with rapid population growth is increasing by 3% every year. Booming population also adversely impacts the already strained water resources. Jordan is among the world's most water scarce countries. To address these challenges, Jordan needs to increase investment in renewable energy sources while reducing overall energy and water consumption through measures to increase efficiency. When it comes to electro-mobility, Jordan is considered a pioneer in the region.

The energy crisis, high energy prices and associated negative social impacts led to the initiation of considerations on the future of the internal market for electricity and natural gas and its ability to provide for the needs of households and companies in the European Union in the long term and at acceptable costs. Russia's invasion of Ukraine gave new momentum to the already ongoing discussions. The issue of energy security is coming to the fore, understood increasingly as independence from fossil fuel supplies from potentially unstable or outright hostile countries and regions.

The Kingdom of Morocco's approach to renewable energy sources (RES) is exemplary, especially thanks to its solar projects, some of which are among the largest in the world. Renewables account for about two-fifths of all installed electricity generation capacity, and the kingdom is globally lauded for its steps towards decarbonisation. At the same time, Morocco covers up to 90% of its energy needs by importing fossil fuels, mainly coal and oil, from third countries, which ranks it first in North Africa. In order to ensure the country's energy security and reduce dependence on imports, Morocco plans to continue investing in renewable sources, planning to be the leader of renewable energy deployment in the MENA region.

Evidence of the Covid-19 pandemic is to be found reflected in figures recording the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions, but the “positive” impact has been short-lived. Even by December 2020 emissions associated with energy use were 2% higher than in December 2019. The year 2020 was also one of the three hottest years since measurements began, whilst at the same time rounding off the hottest ever decade. Measured concentrations of emissions indicate that the world is on track to warm by more than 3°C by the end of the century, far exceeding the safe temperature target set in the Paris Agreement (PA). Clearly, it is not desirable to wait for disasters or crises to prompt concerted action on climate change mitigation, but rather to employ well-thought-out decarbonization strategies sooner rather than later. The purpose of this publication is to provide an expert assessment of the Czechia's foreign policy and to make recommendations to its relevant actors for the future.