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Solving Europe's energy crisis with Norway's power
Europe's energy security hinges on Norway and its transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. That has big geopolitical implications for Ukraine and NATO.
On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer delves into Europe's urgent quest for energy independence and the broader geopolitical shifts that could redefine the continent's future. With the specter of reduced US support for Ukraine after November’s election, Europe's resilience, particularly in energy security and military capabilities, takes center stage. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre joins Ian to discuss Norway's critical role in this transition, emphasizing the need for a swift move from oil and gas to renewables, a monumental task that Europe and Norway are determined to undertake in a remarkably short timeframe. “Norway will transition out of oil and gas. When we pass 2030, there will be declining production, and then we want to see renewables transition upwards,” Prime Minister Jonas Støre tells Ian.
Their conversation delves into the ramifications of the US election outcome on NATO and Ukraine, underscoring Europe's precarious position should American support wane. The discussion reveals the continent's vulnerability to fuel crises and the imperative for a robust energy strategy that lessens dependency on external forces, notably by severing ties with Russian fossil fuels in response to the invasion of Ukraine. “Europe's ability to assist Kyiv on the battlefield will hinge not just on military capabilities but also Europe's own energy security,” Ian explains.
This is a moment of transformation for Europe as it navigates the complexities of energy transition and geopolitical uncertainties, highlighting the interconnectedness of sustainability, security, and solidarity in facing the challenges of the 21st century.
Catch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week online and on US public television. Check local listings.
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Ian Explains: If the US steps back from Ukraine, can Europe go it alone?
Two years into Ukraine's all-out war with Russia, Europe has had to cut off nearly all energy imports from Moscow. Can Europe secure its energy future and defend itself without relying on Russia or, depending on the November election, the United States? Ian Bremmer explains on GZERO World.
Europe is facing a critical juncture in its energy and security landscape. When Russia invaded Ukraine, European leaders rallied for a united front. But in the ensuing two years, some of these intra-European ties have shown signs of fracturing. More concerningly, Europe is no longer confident it can rely on steadfast support across the Atlantic.
Depending on the outcome, the November election in the United States could signal a death knell for American support for Ukraine. With Trump's wavering commitment to NATO and Europe facing a future without Russian fossil fuels, the region is reevaluating its energy security and defense strategies. Europe remains vulnerable despite recent price drops and increased renewable energy capacity. The continent's post-pandemic recovery, climate change-induced weather extremes, and Putin's aggression have highlighted the urgent need for energy independence.
To put it bluntly, Ukraine needs Europe now more than ever, and Europe needs to ensure it is strong enough to provide the support Kyiv relies on. No amount of weaponry shipped to Ukraine's battlefields will matter if Europe can't keep its own homes lit or its factories running
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer on US public television (check local listings) and online.
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Can the world run on green energy yet? Author Bjorn Lomborg argues that's very far off
Renewable energy technology like solar power, wind turbines, and battery storage have made exponential advances in the last decade. But is it enough to address the climate crisis?
On GZERO World, Danish author Bjorn Lomborg sits down with Ian Bremmer to discuss his controversial views on climate change and his belief that current climate technology is nowhere near where it needs to be to move to a net-zero world truly. He acknowledges the price of things like solar panels has gone down, but argues renewable tech is still being propped up by government subsidies.
Scaling up renewable energy technology, even in wealthy countries, is still a huge challenge.
Lomborg says that solar and wind power are intermittent energy sources that can’t provide enough power to keep most places running 24/7. And while prices have come down significantly from where they were a decade ago, the price of lithium-ion batteries needs to be 99% cheaper for them to be a real, practical solution for reliable energy storage.
“We are just far, far away from this actually being something that will scale even in rich countries, and certainly not in poor.”
Watch the full interview on GZERO World: Climate change: are we overreacting?
Catch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
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Podcast: Challenging the climate change narrative with Bjorn Lomborg
Listen: On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Danish author Bjorn Lomborg, a controversial figure in the world of climate change. Lomborg is unequivocal that climate change is a real problem and that humans are responsible for causing it. But where he differs from the global climate narrative is that the current focus on reducing carbon emissions is misguided and ineffective. Lomborg argues the world is too fixated on stopping climate change at the expense of… everything else.
He worries billions are being spent on incremental climate mitigation when that money could be spent more effectively on things like education or maternal mortality. Bremmer challenges Lomborg on a range of issues, from the exponential advancements in renewable technology to the disproportional impact of climate disasters in poor countries. While the two don’t agree on everything, their conversation affirms that climate change is a complex issue that requires nuanced thinking and effective solutions to avoid worst-case scenarios for future generations.
Subscribe to the GZERO World Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.- Podcast: UN Secretary-General António Guterres explains why peace in Ukraine is his top priority ›
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Workers dismantle batteries to obtain lead from them at ACE Green recycling Inc on the outskirts of New Delhi.
India to unveil massive subsidy scheme to hasten clean energy transition
India is going big on diversifying its energy, announcing on Wednesday a hefty subsidy package to encourage companies to ramp up production of electricity grid batteries.
The subsidy proposal – worth a whopping $2.6 billion over the next seven years – comes as PM Narendra Modi is trying to reduce the country’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels, also by expanding India’s electric vehicle market, which is still largely in its infancy.
This new scheme aims to help India migrate to renewable energy sources in line with Modi’s pledge to reduce fossil fuel-powered energy to 50%, down from 75%, by 2030. (Key context: Battery storage devices are needed to retain energy generated by renewable sources like wind and solar.)
This is also a big deal for global efforts to combat climate change as India, the world’s most populous country after recently overtaking China, is slated over the next few decades to increase its energy demand faster than any other country.
What’s more, it also reflects Modi’s attempt to reduce reliance on Chinese exports of lithium (needed to make batteries) and other materials by requiring that 90% of the value of manufacturing projects be created domestically. Indeed, China and India are longtime foes that have engaged in deadly clashes over disputed border territory.
So where will Delhi get all the raw materials from, particularly as global demand increases? In recent years, India has discovered two lithium reserves in the western state of Rajasthan. But most recently, it found massive lithium deposits in the conflict-prone state of Kashmir, which is already causing some friction.
Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy costs & bring back jobs, says US energy secretary
The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration's biggest legislative win since the American Rescue Act early in his term in office. But what will the bill accomplish?
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says it'll fight climate change by giving Americans incentives to use renewable energy in their cars and homes. And that, in turn, will lower the cost of energy prices at home.
But what Granholm is really excited about is how the IRA will boost the domestic energy manufacturing sector — a big deal for someone who watched so many jobs go overseas as the former governor of Michigan.
The IRA, she tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World, will encourage reshoring many of those jobs.
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Egypt wants COP27 to be all about implementation
Later this year, Egypt will be hosting the COP27 Climate Summit. What does the gathering hope to accomplish at such an uncertain time for climate action?
It's time to go from pledges and commitments to implementation, Egyptian Minister for International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat says during a Global Stage livestream conversation hosted by GZERO Media in partnership with Microsoft.
"We want it to be an implementation COP," she explains. "And for that to happen, there needs to be a way for all the private-sector commitments that were made in Glasgow to make their ways to countries. And the only way to do that is if more climate finance ... is presented to actually de-risk some of the private-sector investments."
Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Al-Mashat believes climate is still a common-denominator issue for the entire world. For instance, the war is having a huge impact on food security.
The key, she adds, is nevertheless to show the private sector that it's safe to invest in things in climate partnerships with the private sector that can be scaled up.
Watch more of this Global Stage event: Live from Washington, DC: Financing the Future
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Nations don’t need carbon to grow their economies, says John Kerry
If John Kerry were only able to accomplish one thing as US climate change czar, he'd focus on changing the minds of the one-third of countries in the world that say they're "entitled" to pollute because they didn't before.
For Kerry, it's a fallacy that heavy carbon use is the only way to develop an economy because these nations can leapfrog from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
If we are able to cut by half the amount of carbon we're now releasing into the atmosphere by the end of the decade, he says, we may be able to meet the Paris Climate Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
"Currently, we're on a track to blow through 2 degrees, let alone 1.5. This is the urgency that people need to understand," he says. "Promises are fine, but they don't get the job done. It's the implementation that gets the job done. So, we're working on something called implementation plus."
Watch the GZERO World episode: Ukraine War: Has Putin overplayed his hand?
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