A senior United Nations (UN) forum has warned that ongoing disruptions in global energy supplies and trade routes are driving up the cost of basic goods and deepening poverty risks for millions, particularly in developing and debt-laden economies.
The warning came during a special session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held on Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, where officials and global leaders discussed the impact of instability in fuel markets, shipping lanes and supply chains on development prospects.
ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa said the current situation goes far beyond an energy issue, describing it as a broader challenge for global development financing and economic stability. He said rising fuel and transport costs, along with trade disruptions, are undermining efforts to achieve the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to eradicate poverty and inequality by the end of the decade.
UN data presented at the session shows that global fuel prices are now more than double the 2025 average, while fertiliser costs could remain 15 to 20 per cent higher through the first half of 2026 if disruptions continue. These trends are already pushing up food prices and increasing living costs worldwide.
The combined impact of higher energy prices, food inflation and slowing growth could push more than 32 million additional people into poverty globally, warned the UN data.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua said instability in energy and supply systems is adding pressure to an already fragile global economy, limiting governments’ ability to invest in essential development sectors.
He stressed the need to keep energy and commodity markets open and predictable, expand affordable financing for developing countries, invest in resilient energy infrastructure, and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7, which focuses on affordable and reliable energy access.
Small island developing states were highlighted as particularly vulnerable, with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley noting that countries heavily dependent on imported fuel and food face immediate and severe spillover effects from global crises.
She said energy insecurity affects every aspect of life, from healthcare and education to transportation and national sovereignty, adding that small economies often feel the impact faster and more severely due to their import dependence.
UN officials and member states at the meeting called for stronger international cooperation, increased investment in renewable energy, and more resilient global supply chains to reduce exposure to future shocks.
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