S8 – The Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: The new Report by the Global Commission

As tackling climate change becomes more and more critical and renewables steadily increase their capacity to meet our energy needs, the global transition to sustainable sources of energy will continue to accelarate. The shift from fossil fuels to renewables is driven by new technologies and falling costs, which is making renewables as competitive as conventional sources of energy. The rapid development of renewable technologies and their widespread deployment is transforming economic, social and political systems beyond the energy sector, with profound implications for geopolitical dynamics.

Director-General Adnan Z. Amin of the International Renewable Energy Agency convened a Global Commission to examine this issue and to deepen our understanding of the wider geopolitical implications of the energy transformation. Last month the report of the Global Commission was launched. It examines the trends in the energy sector and charts their possible impacts on power relations, trade, the root causes of geopolitical instability and conflict.

This session will focus on the risks and challenges that are described in the report, diving into the consequences for selected countries and groupings, such as fossil fuel producing countries. It will also look at opportunities that the energy transformation can bring to the majority of developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.

The target audience for the session include policymakers, development organizations, diplomats, businesses, scientists, security analysts and practitioners.

Objectives:

• Deepen our understanding of the wider geopolitical implications of the energy transformation;
• Consider the measures or policies needed to mitigate the risks;
• Consider the opportunities of the energy transformation.

Format: Panel Discussion - 60 minutes total, including introduction, presentation of the key findings of the report “A New World, The Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation”; discussants’ remarks and open Q&A.