European Energy Crisis Cannot Be Solved by Fossil Fuels - Prioritize Peace Instead

Amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Europe faces a persistent energy crisis. A youth activist championing environmental causes in Poland proposes clean energy as the solution.

, and Administrator

2025 September 16 . 3:40 AM

2 min read

European Energy Predicament Cannot Be Resolved by Fossil Fuels - Pursuit of Peace Prevails

European Energy Crisis Cannot Be Solved by Fossil Fuels - Prioritize Peace Instead

Wiktoria Jeńdroszkowiak: A 21-Year-Old Climate Activist Fighting for Change in Poland

Wiktoria Jeńdroszkowiak, a 21-year-old climate activist based in Warsaw, Poland, is on a mission to create a sustainable future for her country and the world. Her work with Fridays for Future in Poland has seen her advocating for renewable energy, a just transition, and an end to Poland's reliance on coal.

Jeńdroszkowiak believes in the climate justice movement as a potential peacemaking movement of our lifetimes. She sees the answer to the energy crisis as going renewable and insulating homes, with a focus on life security and a living wage for those who will lose their jobs due to the closing of coal mines.

The activist has been vocal in her protests, writing to leaders, meeting with them, and organising Twitter storms to pressure leaders to go in the direction of renewable energy. However, she does not support the Just Stop Oil campaign as the sole climate justice movement, but appreciates its attention-grabbing tactics.

Jeńdroszkowiak has been a vocal critic of Poland's lack of ambition when it comes to climate action in the European Union. She is concerned about the energy crisis in Europe, particularly the impact on the poorest communities in Poland who are not able to heat their homes properly.

The war in Ukraine has launched Europeans into a new reality, with the threat of violence spilling over into their communities and the urgency around energy access. Europe has been trying to distance itself from Russia due to the war, as profits from Russian fossil fuel exports account for nearly half of Russia's federal budget.

Jeńdroszkowiak has been dedicating her time to seeking peace for her Ukrainian peers since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. She has confronted government officials like French President Emmanuel Macron and met climate activists Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate.

In the face of uncertainty, a newly issued price cap on Russian oil leaves the future feeling uncertain. Jeńdroszkowiak is advocating for leaders to divest from Russia and not replace it with different dictatorships. Without Russia, Europe risks leaving its constituents in the dark.

Jeńdroszkowiak's activism initially focused on women's rights and feminism, but the world of climate justice showed her the root of society's problems: greedy and powerful people putting profit above people. She is pushing for renewable energy production in Poland, with a focus on creating jobs for those who will lose their jobs due to closing coal mines.

Poland's air quality is hurting as more coal is burned, and people in Poland are attempting to illegally mine coal on their own land. Baltic countries, such as Estonia, are leading the transition away from Russian fossil fuels. Sweden is seeing a comeback of wood burning, and France is restarting coal-fired power plants.

Despite the challenges, Jeńdroszkowiak finds the mobilization that can come out of crisis to be inspirational. She attended COP27 and the United Nations General Assembly in New York to be everywhere where decisions are made and to show leaders that they will always be present.

Jeńdroszkowiak sees a connection between the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, as both are deeply rooted in fossil fuel dependence. She believes that the climate justice movement can be the peacemaking movement of our time, cutting off the roots of various global problems.