Energy Impacts of the War in Ukraine

As the crisis in Ukraine rages on, we grieve the loss of life and destruction to our world that war inevitably brings. The people of Ukraine and all those affected by this conflict deserve our prayers, attention, and support.

However, it is also vital that lawmakers and advocates pay close attention to the energy and environmental implications of this terrible war. Energy and conflict are significantly intertwined issues, and the Ukraine war is only one example of this intersection.

On March 8, the United States banned imports of Russian oil and gas in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While this will have significant economic impacts on Russia, it will also have a global impact on oil and gas prices, including in the United States.

With gas prices already increasing rapidly, some have pointed to this price jump as a reason to increase domestic oil drilling. But if we truly want to tackle the security and economic challenges associated with energy sources, the United States must focus on making a just transition to renewable energy sources. Responding to the Russian invasion with non-violent sanctions and bans is important, but it must not be done at the expense of the climate crisis.