VLADIMIR Putin's brutal assault on Ukraine has forced Europe to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels fast. While a tough situation in the short term, this could be a blessing in disguise as it means an acceleration of Europe's energy transition from greenhouse gas emitting energy sources to clean and renewable ones. The high prices of fuel and energy are making alternatives economically viable, faster. The oil price shocks in the 1970s laid the foundation for Denmark's becoming a global leader in wind power technology.

A decade-long drought in hydropower-dependent Uruguay led to a 75-percent dependence on imported fuel and energy. But today, homegrown wind, solar and biomass energy take care of 40 percent of Uruguay's power needs while the rest is supplied by hydropower (Grant Burrier, April 2, 2020 in World Politics Review).