COP 31 Side Event: Energy Security and Multilateralism: Implications for Energy Futures

Energy security has re-emerged as a paramount global priority amid escalating geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and acute market disruptions. Recent crises have laid bare structural vulnerabilities across global supply chains, underscoring the urgent need to build long-term resilience through source diversification, enhanced international cooperation, and an accelerated transition to clean energy systems.

Yet, while energy markets are deeply interconnected, the institutional architecture governing them remains fragmented, with multiple bodies operating across isolated facets of supply, demand, and policy. This fragmentation raises critical questions regarding the effectiveness, inclusiveness, and adaptability of existing multilateral arrangements—particularly in meeting the urgent energy access and security priorities of the Global South.

This session will explore how revitalized multilateral cooperation can advance secure, equitable, and low-carbon energy transitions. Deliberations will focus on improving coordination among international institutions, spotlighting the role of solar energy and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in curtailing import dependency, building local capacity, and mobilizing clean energy investment. The session will also feature the launch of a new report on energy security and multilateralism, followed by a moderated panel discussion and an interactive Q&A.