Energy & Environment

The ability to secure sources of energy is a vital national security interest for every country in the world. A dramatic increase in new energy sources and methods for capture and storage have redefined the global energy landscape, providing more options beyond traditional oil and coal. At the same time, concern about climate change and environmental degradation is forcing political and business leaders to balance their economic goals with potential environmental consequences.

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Recent analysis

Amid government turmoil, Germany dives into effort to phase out coal

Dispatches Mar 17, 2026

How the Iran war could trigger a European energy crisis

By Lisa Basquel

Refilling Europe’s depleted gas storage—already a difficult task given the continent’s efforts to stop purchasing Russian gas—is even more difficult now with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.
Conflict Economy & Business
Amid government turmoil, Germany dives into effort to phase out coal

Dispatches Mar 12, 2026

Energy under attack: What the Gulf can learn from Ukraine and Iraq

By Matthew Keating

In their successes and shortcomings, Iraq and Ukraine are cases worth studying by countries currently under attack from Iran.
Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
Amid government turmoil, Germany dives into effort to phase out coal

MENASource Mar 10, 2026

How to understand the Iran war market swings: A geopolitical put option

By Khalid Azim

The two most important determinants of an option’s price are time to expiration and volatility.
Economy & Business Iran

Events

Public Event Thu, March 26, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

The US-Syria Energy Symposium
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Middle East Syria
Flagship Event Tue, June 9, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

2026 Global Energy Forum

The tenth Global Energy Forum will chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition. 
Africa Americas Climate Change & Climate Action Critical Minerals

Programs

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

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The Climate Resilience Center creates and delivers transformative solutions that improve lives, protect livelihoods, and expand opportunity for communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. The Center is committed to reaching one billion people around the world with resilience solutions to climate change by 2030.

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The latest from EnergySource

EnergySource

Mar 23, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz crisis will ripple across plastics and food supply chains, helping Beijing and Moscow, hurting Americans

By Joseph Webster and Kate Burnett

The oil and gas blockade in the Strait of Hormuz will tighten petrochemical and fertilizer markets, with geopolitical and economic implications for the United States.

China Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Mar 19, 2026

The Iran war tests Taiwan’s energy resilience

By Kevin Li

Taiwan's energy vulnerabilities are being sharply tested by supply disruptions from the conflict in Iran. Mitigating these risks will require both short-term crisis management and longer-term diversification of its energy mix.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

EnergySource

Mar 12, 2026

Why Gulf security is critical to global security

By Omran Al-Kuwari

The world depends on Gulf stability. It is time to govern it that way.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
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Content

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jul 12, 2018

Amid government turmoil, Germany dives into effort to phase out coal

By Ellen Scholl and Peter Freudenstein

This piece is the first in a series examining the opportunities and challenges facing the recently launched “Coal Exit Commission” in Germany. It will shed some light on the context surrounding the establishment of the Commission and explain the important role coal still plays in Germany. Amid political turmoil over migration, last month Germany launched […]

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

MENASource

Jul 11, 2018

Can Sadr fulfill his campaign promise to reform the Iraq energy sector?

By Andrea Taylor

The trajectory of Iraq remains uncertain two months after the May 2018 Parliamentary elections in which the political bloc led by Muqtada al-Sadr won the greatest number of seats. Given that the Alliance Revolutionaries for Reform, or Sairoon, fell well short of a majority, Sadr must develop a coalition with other parties to elect a […]

Energy Markets & Governance Iraq

EnergySource

Jul 9, 2018

The UAE’s energy future: A long-term strategy beyond hydrocarbons

By Herbert Crowther

The world’s largest single-site solar park and the world’s first attempt at a carbon neutral, self-sustainable city can both be found in what might seem to be an unlikely location: the heart of the Arabian Gulf. Both projects are funded by and located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a geographically small state that holds […]

Energy Transitions Renewables & Advanced Energy

EnergySource

Jul 5, 2018

The risks of the Trump Administration’s whiplash policy on Iranian oil

By David Mortlock and Ellen Wald

As the Trump Administration prepares to re-impose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran following the president’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), its treatment of Iranian oil sales could dramatically impact both the United States’ Iran strategy and the global oil market. The administration’s apparent decision to compel buyers […]

Geopolitics & Energy Security Iran

EnergySource

Jul 5, 2018

Finding nature-inspired solutions for energy use design challenges in engineering and architecture

By Peter Dean

A previous blog entry addressed the human role in containing entropy. This post examines real-world examples of addressing design challenges in engineering and architecture. Unfortunately, many engineering solutions to both past and current architectural and industrial design challenges have relied on abundant and cheap energy for their effectiveness. When energy is cheap and plentiful, using […]

Energy Transitions Technology & Innovation

EnergySource

Jul 3, 2018

Is power ever too cheap to meter?

By Branko Terzic

Despite decades of safe operation at over 100 power stations generating carbon free electricity, nuclear power remains a controversial topic in the United States. Nuclear opponents often remind the public that proponents once promised that electricity from nuclear power would be “too cheap to meter,” a promise that has so far gone unfulfilled. However, a […]

Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Jul 2, 2018

As OPEC manages the market, shale producers struggle with local constraints

By Ellen Scholl

Much has been made of the recent OPEC decision to lift production limits and its impact on US shale producers, with some commentators arguing that OPEC reclaiming its role as a market manager has put US shale in its place. However, others have noted that shale producers in the Permian are potentially sighing in relief […]

Americas Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Jul 2, 2018

Mexico’s Energy Reforms: The Prospects Under an AMLO Administration

By David L. Goldwyn

The election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) augurs great uncertainty over the direction of Mexico’s seminal 2013 energy reforms. As a candidate, AMLO spoke in favor of pausing new offerings for oil and gas investment acreage, building more refining capacity within Mexico, and developing the nation’s gas supplies. Changes in Mexico’s energy framework will […]

Energy & Environment Latin America

EnergySource

Jun 28, 2018

Understanding OPEC’s agreement to raise production: A conversation with Helima Croft

By Ellen Scholl

Global Energy Center Deputy Director Ellen Scholl sat down with Atlantic Council Board Director Dr. Helima Croft, managing director and global head of commodity strategy, global research at RBC Capital Markets, for her take on the OPEC meeting and the decision to move away from production cuts and toward increasing production to balance the market […]

Energy Markets & Governance Oil and Gas

EnergySource

Jun 28, 2018

Seizing advanced energy opportunities in Northeast Ohio

By David Livingston

An Atlantic Council Global Energy Center delegation, including General James Jones (Ret), Vice Admiral Lee Gunn (Ret), Amb. Richard Morningstar (Ret), former mayor of Cleveland Jane Campbell, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy Joe Bryan, recently visited Cleveland, Ohio, to better understand the city’s clean energy economy and innovation ecosystem.  During […]

Americas Energy Transitions
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Experts

Fellow

Shahira Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Economy & Business

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Istvan-Lorant Antal

Senator, Senate of Romania

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Rabah Arezki

Distinguished Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Iliyana Arnaudova

Clean Energy Finance Manager, C40

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Expert

Defne Arslan

Senior Director

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Marino Auffant

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Energy & Environment
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Events

Public Event Thu, March 26, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

The US-Syria Energy Symposium
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Middle East Syria
Public Event Thu, March 26, 2026 • 2:30 pm ET

Gina McCarthy and the European Commission’s Teresa Ribera on climate cooperation
Climate Change & Climate Action Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Fri, March 27, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

How Ukraine’s drones and Russia’s reconnaissance fit into the Iran war
Conflict Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies
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