The Energy Gang looks ahead to COP27: are we still heading in the right direction?

On this episode of the Energy Gang, it’s a think-tank showdown. Host and referee for the day Ed Crooks is joined in the ring by Samantha Gross from the Brookings Institution, making her Energy Gang debut, and Joseph Majkut from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, returning to the show after joining us back in June. 

We start the discussion off with a deep dive into COP27, the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. In the year since COP26 in Glasgow, a lot has changed. Russia has invaded Ukraine, accelerating the surge in energy prices, and demand for coal has been making a comeback as countries look for alternatives to gas. What is on the agenda for COP27? Have the events of this past year set us back? And does the gang expect this year’s summit to be a success or a failure?  

Also on the show: some good news for climate action as the United States Senate ratifies the Kigali Amendment, which aims for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) - potent greenhouse gases - by cutting their production and consumption. Listen in as the gang breaks down what is in this amendment, the progress that is being made, and what it means for the future of the energy transition.  

Finally, we wrap up the show with a look at the latest on European leaders calling for a price cap on Russian oil. This is an idea that has the backing of the G7 countries, including the US. The US says it could save consuming countries $160 billion a year. Meanwhile, the Financial Times is describing the idea as “one of the most novel international economic policymaking experiments ever attempted.”  

As always, check out our Twitter to let us know your thoughts and any future topics you want us to discuss. We’re @TheEnergyGang. 

This episode of the Energy Gang is brought to you by Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader advancing a sustainable energy future for all. 

Learn more by listening to the Power Pulse podcast, where the Hitachi Energy team discusses the latest in the ongoing transformation of the world’s energy systems. The Power Pulse podcast is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or any other podcast app.

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