Odd Lots

Matt Klein on How Germany Wound up So Dependent on Russian Gas

Mar 7, 2022

Matt Klein, founder of The Overshoot newsletter and author of Trade Wars Are Class Wars, delves into Germany's precarious dependence on Russian gas. He discusses how misaligned priorities and underinvestment in energy infrastructure led to this vulnerability. The conversation reveals the impact of geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and critiques Germany's past energy policies that favored fossil fuels. Ultimately, Klein emphasizes the urgent need for a pivot toward sustainable energy solutions amidst a shifting global landscape.

55:20

Creator website

Episode guests

Matt Klein

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Europe's Gas Ties: Germany and Russian Dependence

11min

Germany's Dependence on Russian Gas: A Crisis Unfolding

4min

Germany's Energy Policy and Economic Challenges

18min

Germany's Energy Dependence: The Russian Gas Connection

2min

Navigating Energy Dependence in Turbulent Times

20min

Farewell and New Beginnings in Podcast Production

5min

Harsh sanctions have been imposed against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. However, the country's energy exports have largely been spared. One significant reason for this is Germany's high dependence on Russian energy, particularly natural gas. So how did Germany wind up in this situation? And why didn't it take steps years ago to start weaning itself off of this dependency? We discuss this with Matt Klein, the founder and publisher of The Overshoot as well as the author of the book Trade Wars Are Class Wars. He explains how misplaced German priorities led to years of underinvestment, and a poorly thought out energy strategy, which is now forcing Germany to pivot at a very difficult time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.