I’ve always thought of “green energy” as a term that made sense to me. But as I was reviewing this week’s headlines, I came across an interesting headline.
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The head of OPEC, Haitham Al Ghais, has stirred up debate by claiming that the term “green energy” is misleading. Speaking at a recent energy event, he argued that labelling certain energy sources as “green” oversimplifies the complexities of the global energy transition.
According to Al Ghais, the world still heavily relies on oil and gas, and dismissing these sources in favour of so-called “green” alternatives ignores the reality of energy demand. He emphasised that instead of dividing energy into “good” and “bad,” the focus should be on making all forms of energy cleaner and more efficient.
This statement comes at a time when countries are ramping up their renewable energy investments. Governments and climate activists are pushing for a shift away from fossil fuels, but OPEC’s stance highlights an ongoing struggle between economic realities and environmental goals.
So, is OPEC just trying to defend its industry, or do they have a point? While renewables like solar and wind are growing fast, they still face challenges like storage and reliability. Meanwhile, new technologies, such as carbon capture, aim to make fossil fuels less harmful.
One thing is clear: the world needs a balanced approach. Energy solutions should focus on sustainability, affordability, and accessibility whether they come from oil, gas, or renewables. Maybe instead of arguing over labels, the real discussion should be about how to secure a cleaner, more reliable energy future for everyone.
Seems like a bit of a grey area. What do you think?
References
BBC News. (2025, March 26). OPEC leader questions ‘green’ label for energy sources. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business
Energy Live News. (2025, March 25). OPEC chief says term ‘green’ is misleading. Retrieved from https://www.energylivenews.com/2025/03/25/opec-chief-says-term-green-is-misleading/
Financial Times. (2025, March 26). OPEC defends oil’s role in energy transition. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/opec-oil-energy-future
Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini