From New York to Miami to Davos: Geopolitics, Energy, and Climate Take the Stage
Jason leads a discussion in Davos with Robert Habeck, Catherine MacGregor, Fatih Birol, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Vicki Hollub.

From New York to Miami to Davos: Geopolitics, Energy, and Climate Take the Stage

So much happened at the Center on Global Energy Policy and the Columbia Climate School in May that I felt it worthwhile to recap the flurry of events, travel, and thoughtful conversation that I’ve had the opportunity to take part in over the last month.

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.

At the beginning of the month, I spoke with European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and its impact on Europe’s energy system. This discussion occurred against the backdrop of an energy price spike in Europe, made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.? While the EU is working to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas this year, eliminating it entirely will prove to be a longer, more complicated process. And the possibility that the conflict in Ukraine stretches on for months or even years may force Europe to reconsider its energy policy decisions over the past few decades.

(L to R): Maria Jelescu Dreyfus, CEO and Founder, Ardinall Investment Management; Jack Farchy, Bloomberg News; Javier Blas, Bloomberg Columnist

In the same week, I also had the chance to sit down with Bloomberg’s Javier Blas and Jack Farchy to discuss how policymakers can think about energy supplies in a fractious geopolitical environment. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increasing social and consumer pressure to move away from Russian commodities, consumers and companies are facing a dramatic spike in commodity prices. We discussed options for policymakers to address these pressing geopolitical and energy challenges.?

Jason with Meghan O'Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Harvard University; Indira Lakshmanan, senior executive editor at National Geographic.

I also spoke with climate leaders from around the globe here in New York and Miami. At the Aspen Climate Conference in Miami, I appeared alongside my esteemed colleague Meghan O’Sullivan on a panel led by Indira Lakshmanan about the geopolitics of the clean energy transition. We delved into the potential risks of a bumpy transition, and explained ways to mitigate future shocks and secure a safer climate future.?

I met up with Meghan again for a Foreign Policy Live interview to discuss how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is actually driving greater investment in clean energy.?

I had the great privilege to offer oral evidence to the Economic Affairs Committee of the UK’s House of Lords, speaking with Members of Parliament on a wide array of subjects, including how to meet energy security and affordability challenges today in ways that accelerate, rather than stymie, the clean energy transition.?

I also got the chance to address the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas virtually for their Energy and Inflation: Drivers and Solutions research event.

Columbia Climate School co-deans Alex Halliday, Maureen Raymo, Ruth DeFries, and Jason Bordoff.

In mid-May, it was an honor and a thrill to be able to celebrate the first ever graduation of students from the Columbia Climate School. I am continually inspired by these students’ expertise and passion for solving the climate crisis. No doubt I’ll be turning to them for guidance in the future.?

More recently, I sat down with David Turk , the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Energy, to talk about what the Federal Government is doing to stimulate innovation and address the climate crisis. This conversation, as well as those with Commissioner Simson and Javier Blas, are available on the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast .

At the end of the month, I joined policy makers from around the world at Davos for the 2022 World Economic Forum. It was an action-packed week in which the overriding focus for leaders was how to manage the dual crises of energy and climate. I chaired a plenary discussion on overcoming the energy crisis, which included Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck, India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor, and Occidental CEO Vicky Hollub (pictured at the top).

US Climate Envoy John Kerry.

CGEP and the Columbia Climate School also hosted a dinner at Davos, where I had the chance to speak with US Climate Envoy John Kerry about international climate diplomacy. Energy security was at the top of the agenda at Davos in a way not seen in many years, and the many government and business leaders I met with shared a sense of urgency to address the current crisis without slowing down the energy transition. This year because Davos came in spring, I traded in my skis for an e-bike so I could zip through the congested streets from meeting to meeting.

CGEP was built for moments such as this one. With the whole world seeking solutions to the dual crises of energy security and climate change, CGEP’s deep expertise on geopolitics, markets, and the energy transition has made us a sought-after resource for policymakers and business leaders alike. It was thus gratifying to see our work and our experts playing a key role in the global response to these complex energy challenges. The busy month of May presented us with opportunities to engage in thoughtful conversations with some of the most prominent leaders in the world of energy policy. I look forward to the action-packed summer ahead of us for the Columbia Climate School and the Center on Global Energy Policy.

Zipping around the congested streets in Davos.

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