Transatlantic climate and energy security

To better understand how the war’s conclusion—or lack thereof—will impact the options available to transatlantic policymakers, this report analyzes European security across five general scenarios—a Ukrainian victory, a negotiated settlement, a frozen conflict, a protracted conflict, and a Russian victory.

In this issue brief, Global Energy Center experts explore the potential for Ukraine’s energy sector to strengthen European energy security and decarbonization objectives. The brief explores how Ukraine can reform its energy sector to attract investment and create new revenue streams, and how transatlantic partners in government and the private sector can support Ukraine’s clean energy transformation.

This issue brief explores the potential for Caspian region fossil fuel developments to meet Europe’s energy needs, considering regional factors and challenges.

Ukraine’s closure of a pipeline that supplied Russian gas to Europe offers the European Union an opportunity to enhance its economic and energy security.

Ukraine faces its harshest winter yet as temperatures drop, gas stocks dwindle, and its already crumbling energy infrastructure continues to endure Russian missile attacks. Ukraine, with help from its partners, must urgently strengthen defenses of its energy infrastructure, or they risk international financial support being undermined by the continuous onslaught.

As the European Commission takes shape, it faces three critical issues that it must address to meet energy demand and restore Europe’s climate credibility: inadequate funding for the green transition, dependence on foreign energy imports, and declining economic competitiveness. The EU must take bold action to survive in a changing world.

The Western Balkans rely heavily on aging coal plants for electricity production, with five of its nations generating about 40 to 95 percent of their electricity from lignite, leading to significant pollution and related health issues. Tens of thousands of megawatts of solar and wind projects have been proposed, but despite policy incentives and investor appetite, five key challenges remain.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the urgency of strengthening Europe’s power grid to meet the interrelated demands of energy security and decarbonization. Europe can build a resilient energy future by improving regional connectivity, increasing digitalization, investing in grid infrastructure, and reforming unwieldy regulations.

The new UK administration, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is committed to clean energy and the energy transition. With experienced ministers stepping back into familiar roles, the new Labour government aims to hit the ground running to drive renewable energy, new nuclear technologies, and carbon capture initiatives, repositioning the UK as a leader in international climate change discussions.