Climate Policies

Tunisia's Green Populism: Sovereignty vs. Clean Energy

How emotionally charged narratives are stalling Tunisia's green transition and threatening long-term energy and economic security.

As Tunisia grapples with a deepening energy and economic crisis, a new yet worrying tone has taken over parts of the national debate — that of environmental populism . What appears at first glance to be a legitimate concern for ecological justice and sovereignty is, in reality, turning into a major barrier to investment in renewable energy and a serious threat to national energy transition efforts.

Tunisia currently imports over 50% of its energy needs , a dependence that comes at a high cost. In 2023 alone, the national energy bill exceeded 8 billion Tunisian dinars , contributing significantly to a record trade deficit of over 25 billion dinars . At the same time, despite ambitious goals, renewable energy contributes less than 4% of the country's electricity production, far from the target of 30% by 2030 .

Faced with these alarming figures, one might expect a unified push to accelerate renewable energy development. Instead, each major renewable project in Tunisia — from solar farms in the south to regional electricity interconnectors — is increasingly met with skepticism and outright opposition. This resistance is often couched in powerful slogans: "Why export energy while our people lack electricity?", "Foreign investors are taking our land", or "Energy sovereignty first".

While such arguments strike an emotional chord, they often lack factual grounding. Take, for instance, the “NOOR Tataouine” project — one of the largest solar initiatives in North Africa. It promised not only to bring infrastructure and jobs to one of Tunisia's most marginalized regions but also to generate export revenues and reduce energy imports. Yet, it faced a wave of rejection framed as a “sellout of national sovereignty.”

Similarly, the Tunisia-Italy ELMED interconnector , a strategic project to integrate Tunisia into the Euro-Mediterranean green energy market, has been attacked as a tool of “green colonialism” — despite being co-financed by European and Tunisian partners with clear national benefit clauses.

Meanwhile, other North African countries like Morocco and Egypt have fully embraced green energy exports, securing billions in foreign investment and positioning themselves as future green energy hubs. Tunisia, by contrast, remains bogged down in legislative delays and public distrust, driven in part by an emotional but misleading narrative.

The claims often made by environmental populists disregard key facts:

• Export projects are not replacing domestic supply — they add capacity and generate revenue.

• Land use is temporary and regulated — via fixed-term concessions, not land grabs.

• Foreign investment is essential — the Tunisian state lacks the capacity to finance multi-billion dinar projects alone.

What Tunisia is losing to this populist rhetoric is more than just stalled projects. It is losing investor confidence, job opportunities, and the chance to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels. Worse still, it is falling behind in meeting international carbon neutrality targets, which could trigger future penalties in trade relations, especially with the EU.

The most dangerous part of this populist wave is that it offers no viable alternatives. It criticizes without building. It casts doubt on every project and assumes bad faith in every agreement, paralyzing a sector that should be the engine of future growth.

Energy is not just a technical file — it is a matter of national sovereignty and strategic independence. True sovereignty is not about isolation or rejection, but about negotiating smart partnerships, building local capacities, and investing in long-term resilience .

Tunisia now stands at a crossroads: either it leads a pragmatic, inclusive, and strategic green transition — or it remains hostage to a populist discourse that may win applause today, but will cost the country dearly tomorrow.