Natural resources and energy
Renewable Energy and Central Asia’s Electricity Issues
Central Asia has been experiencing frequent power outages during the pandemic, causing unrest and demonstrations across multiple provinces in the region. While Central Asian governments are cooperating with international development actors such as the World Bank and USAID, private companies are still reluctant to invest in the renewable energy market due to expected low returns on investment. Meanwhile, failure to act quickly in renewable energy adoption can be disastrous for Central Asian governments as the region’s water resources are depleting and power outage-caused protests are growing.
Jordan and Israel Join UAE to Sign a Historic Solar Energy-for-Water Deal
Towards the end of November, Israel, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates signed a historic resource sharing agreement in the biggest display of regional cooperation ever undertaken between Israel and its Arab neighbors. With funding and solar technology from the UAE, the deal establishes a solar farm in Jordan which will provide electricity to Israel. In exchange, Israel will provide water to Jordan, building a desalination plant on its Mediterranean coast. In addition to representatives from Israel, Jordan, and the UAE, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry attended the deal’s signing in Dubai.
Energy Transition in the European Union: Great Challenges and Opportunities
Transition towards low carbon energy systems remains to be a challenge for the European Union. Europe is faced with economic, social and environmental costs of having fragmented national energy markets despite the ambitious “European Green Deal” agenda of Von der Leyen’s Commission, which positions the EU as a leader in global climate action through comprehensive decarbonization policies. A net reduction target of minimum 55% from the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions was agreed on Wednesday 21st of April by European co-legislators under the framework for European Climate Law. Nonetheless, curbing GHG emissions necessitates regional concerted action for transition from fossil fuel economies to renewable energy based systems in order to face the transboundary effects of climate change.
UK Supreme Court Approval of Shell-Bodo Case: Could This Be a Step Towards a More Equitable Future?
A British Supreme Court ruling has brought to a head a 13-year-old battle to hold Royal Dutch Shell accountable for massive oil spills in the Niger Delta in 2008 and 2009. This creates a precedent for taking multinational corporations to trial in the home countries of their parent companies. This may mark the beginning of a more regulated global environment, in which subsidiary companies responsible for human rights abuses happening abroad could be held more accountable. Whether this will be an effective solution remains to be seen.
What to expect in the Gulf Cooperation Countries in 2021: Key trends to watch
The history of the Gulf Cooperation Council is a story of the equally blessing and cursing natural resources, monarchies and Muslim Brotherhood. Since its establishment in 1981, this political and economic union has been subject to heightened economic pressures and long-standing geopolitical dynamics. This article explores the key trends to expect from the partnership of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates throughout 2021.
The Energy Charter Treaty: a Threat to the European Union’s Climate Ambition
The 1994 International Treaty protects investors in the energy sector from States’ policy changes. This firmly blocks the EU’s available spending towards its long term goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
COVID-19 and the green revolution: A new energy order in the making?
The pandemic has accelerated an ongoing switch towards greener energy, to the point that some foresee a “new energy order” in the making. But these calls are likely exaggerated, with traditional energy sources predicted to stay dominant.
Risk to Arctic Energy Exploration
Arctic Exploration remains an exciting prospect for many in the energy sector. According to estimates, the Arctic could be one of the greatest untapped reserves of energy resources in the world. However exciting the proposition of tapping these resources may seem, it is an extremely expensive proposition.
Eastern Mediterranean: too small of a bathtub for two swimmers
While the two protagonists Greece and Turkey are currently in dispute over economic rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, other stakeholders within the region continue to complicate their strained relationship. As this issue develops, wider implications emerge well beyond the region, creating both opportunities and hazards
Greece and Turkey: Energy Security Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean
Overlapping maritime claims and strategic energy interests have resulted in a clash between Greek and Turkish naval ships in the waters of Cyprus, mutual public hostilities. The high tensions and decades of antagonism between the two, however, are unlikely to result in open warfare. The recently discovered Eastern Mediterranean gas and oil fields, have inspired a powerful energy alliance between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, which challenges Turkey’s energy hub ambitions.
