Category: Timely Commentary & Analysis

What’s the future of US nuclear strategy? Top officials dissect the Biden administration’s plans.

Current and former Department of Defense, State, and Energy officials outline the top takeaways from the new NPR at the Atlantic Council.

The IEA World Energy Outlook 2022 highlights climate finance needs ahead of COP27

By Emily Burlinghaus

The new IEA World Energy Outlook 2022 should be used as a roadmap at COP27 for the allocation of climate-oriented resources. Doing so would better enable developing nations to ride the wave of interest in clean technologies amid the global energy crisis and share in the benefits of the transition.

US midterm elections, Part I: What’s at stake for energy and climate?

By David L. Goldwyn, Andrea Clabough

The US midterm elections could alter the course of the Biden administration's energy and climate trajectory. But just like points of contention could emerge, consensus and continuity could as well.

A new Europe-MENA energy interdependence: The role of hydrogen

By Giampaolo Cantini

A deeper Europe-MENA relationship could aid a secure transition in Europe and create lucrative low-carbon export opportunities and industries in North Africa. Hydrogen could be the cornerstone of these new ties, and COP27 could be the perfect forum to develop them.

China’s energy security realities and COP27 ambitions

By Joseph Webster, William Tobin

China will enter COP27 firmly playing both sides of the energy transition. The country is a global leader in clean technologies, but it is also pouring money into new coal plants and production. Beijing may have to choose between its climate aspirations and its coal realities to compete successfully with the West.

How Europe can salvage its climate credibility at COP27

By Michał Kurtyka and Paddy Ryan

Europe's recent energy policies have begotten accusations of climate hypocrisy, as the continent blocks access to financing for gas projects in developing countries yet scours those countries for gas supplies for its own use. At COP27, Europe can—and should—responsibly reconcile those contradictions.

The global infrastructure financing gap: Where sovereign wealth funds and pension funds can play a role

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou and Naomi Aladekoba

Having more than $65 trillion in assets, institutional investors such as SWFs and pension funds are uniquely positioned to bridge low-income economies’ infrastructure financing gap in the coming decades. The Bretton Woods Institutions (BWI) can encourage investment in developing countries’ infrastructure through providing various guarantee and insurance mechanisms, thereby reducing risk for private investors.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on the US oil and gas industry

By Joseph Webster

The IRA will ratchet up competition in energy production with which the US oil and gas industry will have to contend, across any number of functional niches. But several of its provisions also represent opportunities for the industry to smoothly transition to a fresh role in the US energy sector.

COP27 and financing for sustainable energy development

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

COP27 will place the issue of climate finance front and center. The need to provide adequate support for developing nations beset by climate-related hardship and pursuing transition policies cannot be overstated.

The 5×5—Non-state armed groups in cyber conflict

By Simon Handler

Five experts from various backgrounds assess the emerging threats posed by non-state armed groups in cyber conflict.