Renewable energy development and the reduction of reliance on fossil fuels pose challenges for Canada, but examples from countries like Uruguay, Kenya, and Pakistan demonstrate successful transitions and their associated benefits. Despite fossil fuels still dominating the global energy supply, many nations are actively working to shift towards cleaner energy sources to mitigate climate change risks and reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions caused by geopolitical events. Jessica Isaacs, the global impact director at the World Resources Institute’s Polsky Energy Center, highlights that countries worldwide are motivated by energy security concerns to diversify their energy mix.
Uruguay, historically dependent on imported fossil fuels for electricity, faced significant price and supply shocks in the early 2000s. The country’s energy minister, Ramón Méndez Galain, spearheaded a successful transition to renewables, emphasizing the economic advantages and stability brought by renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass. By 2023, Uruguay had achieved 90 to 99 percent renewable electricity, with wind farms contributing nearly 40 percent of its power generation.
In Kenya, the focus has been on expanding renewable energy access, with the country making remarkable progress in electrification. From only five percent of the population having access to electricity in 1995, Kenya now boasts a 76 percent electrification rate, with plans to achieve universal access by 2030. By 2024, Kenya had already reached close to 90 percent renewable energy capacity, with a significant portion coming from geothermal sources, complemented by hydro, wind, and solar power.
Pakistan’s rapid transition to solar energy stands out as a notable success story. Incentives for solar energy adoption, coupled with escalating fuel prices and falling solar panel costs, led to a five-fold increase in solar electricity generation between 2021 and 2025. Distributed solar systems, predominantly installed on rooftops, now account for approximately 20 percent of Pakistan’s electricity supply, shielding the country from disruptions in natural gas supply and reducing import costs significantly.
The success of these countries lies in their ability to engage and convince their populations of the advantages of renewable energy for climate resilience, energy security, and economic growth. Political will, effective communication strategies, and public engagement have been crucial in driving these transitions towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.