The war in Ukraine has taken its toll on energy markets the world over. Governments are encouraging dirty fuels by subsidizing energy use as citizens shiver through the winter. But this whole scramble hides a bigger trend, says Economist's Amrita Basu. By making fossil fuels scarcer and pricier, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has actually given renewable energy a shot in the arm.
The Belt and Road initiative to encircle much of the world with Chinese-funded, Chinese-built infrastructure is growing leaner and more penny-wise. But its ambitions are undimmed. Energy-market turmoil has given a boost to the green transition—a boost that has come with hard truths about the shift’s costs. And a television show about Jesus Christ becomes an unlikely hit.
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