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Programs and initiatives

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.

Events

Global Energy Forum

Jan 9, 2020

Energy sector diversification: Meeting demographic challenges in the MENA region

By Bina Hussein

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is projected to experience significant demographic growth by 2050, growth which will have to be met with commensurate economic expansion and job opportunities, or the region will risk an increase in political instability. To meet this challenge, countries in the region must diversify their economies beyond the energy sector and expand their energy sector beyond hydrocarbons. What are the key trends that MENA countries will have to contend with, what is already being done, and what further steps should be taken?

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

Issue Brief

Jan 9, 2020

Transforming the power sector in developing countries: Geopolitics, poverty, and climate change in Bangladesh

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

As the South and Southeast Asian region faces increasing energy demand due to both population and economic growth, countries like Bangladesh must meet that demand while facing and overcoming critical environmental and energy security challenges. How is Bangladesh seeking to diversify its energy mix and establish more local and decarbonized power systems, and what are key opportunities for future government and foreign investment?

Bangladesh Climate Change & Climate Action

Global Energy Forum

Jan 9, 2020

Transforming the power sector in developing countries: Geopolitics, poverty, and climate change in Pakistan

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

As the South and Southeast Asian region faces increasing energy demand due to both population and economic growth, countries like Pakistan must meet that demand while facing and overcoming critical environmental and energy security challenges. How is Pakistan seeking to diversify its energy mix and establish more local and decarbonized power systems, and what are key opportunities for future government and foreign investment?

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Markets & Governance

Content

New Atlanticist

Jan 20, 2021

What China’s march to net-zero emissions means for the world

By Larry Luxner

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a pledge to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Can China live up to the promises?

China Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2021

The world is about to embark on a big energy transition. Here’s what it could look like.

By Katherine Golden

“Real friends say the bitter truth,” said Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Forum. And “the bitter truth is that real energy transitions are coming, and they are coming fast.”

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2021

Top UAE officials assess renewables, peak oil, and the post-COVID energy market

By Larry Luxner

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology, joined Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE minister of energy and infrastructure, and Musabbeh Al Kaabi, the CEO of UAE investments at the Mubadala Investment Company.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 19, 2021

Transcript: Global Energy Forum conversations with Sultan Al Jaber, Suhail Al Mazrouei, and Musabbeh Al Kaabi

By Atlantic Council

The 2021 Global Energy Forum kicked off with conversations with top thought leaders on the future of energy.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
Abu Dhabi Skyline

Global Energy Agenda

Jan 18, 2021

The 2021 Global Energy Agenda

By Randolph Bell, Jennifer T. Gordon, Paul Kielstra, and Andrew Marshall (Editors)

The inaugural edition of the Global Energy Agenda provides context for the unprecedented year that has passed. It features a survey of thought leaders in the energy sector, as well as a series of essays by the leading figures in energy, to set the energy agenda for 2021.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

EnergySource

Jan 14, 2021

A clean energy agenda for the US Department of Defense

By Jon Powers and Michael Wu

As the largest institutional consumer of energy in the world, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has a critical role in fulfilling US clean energy and climate commitments. Energy is essential to every aspect of military operations, from fueling ships and aircraft to powering military bases. Investing in clean energy will strengthen US military capabilities and resilience while making meaningful progress on climate goals.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

Dec 13, 2020

Bell and Yellen quoted in ABC News on green hydrogen

Energy Transitions Renewables & Advanced Energy

In the News

Dec 3, 2020

Douquet in The Baltimore Sun: The US is falling behind in science and engineering; 3 ways to catch up

In January of this year the National Science Board, which is part of the National Science Foundation, published its biennial report on Science and Engineering Indicators. It captures how the United States compares to other countries from the perspective of degree production, investments in research and development, and scientific articles and patents (as a proxy for […]

Energy & Environment Renewables & Advanced Energy

EnergySource

Nov 22, 2020

In states with key clean energy wins, utilities have a strong hand in driving or stalling progress

By Emily Burlinghaus

The 2020 US elections delivered some notable state and city-level wins for clean energy across the United States, notably in Nevada, Colorado, and Ohio. However, even in states that delivered victories for clean energy, utilities will still play a key role in driving—or stalling—the clean energy transition. The complex history of clean energy policy in each of these states points to the divergent paths both cities and states can take to decarbonize and the importance of striking a delicate balance between government, utilities, and public interests.

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

Global Energy Forum

Oct 27, 2020

Enhancing US-Japan cooperation on clean energy technologies

By Reed Blakemore, David Yellen

Japan’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 presents an opportunity to expand the robust US-Japan energy partnership into additional clean energy areas. But with a stark divide on energy policy in the United States, how can the US-Japan energy partnership appeal to disparate visions of the energy transition and is politically durable? In the wake of Japan's net-zero announcement, the Global Energy Center is launching this new report, "Enhancing US-Japan cooperation on clean energy technologies," which explores how the United States and Japan can increase the politically durable foundation for clean energy cooperation to their already robust energy partnership.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Experts