David and Helen talk to Jason Bordoff, Dean of the Columbia Climate School and former Special Assistant to Barack Obama, about climate, COP26 and the enormous challenges of the energy transition. How can we balance the need for energy security with the need to wean the world off its dependency on fossil fuels? Why is China still so reliant on coal? Who will pay for the energy needs of the developing world? Plus, just how scared are the oil companies of public opinion? You can read more of Jason’s work here.
Talking Points:
Energy transition will require a lot of capital investment.
There is a clash between climate ambition and energy reality.
During a lockdown that shut down half of the global economy, carbon emissions only fell 6%.
In many parts of the world, energy use will actually need to increase in the coming decades.
Some people, like John Kerry, hoped that the U.S. and China might find a point of consensus on climate.
If we always see high oil prices as a political problem that we can’t afford, then how will we get to the point at which we allow high prices to reduce demand?
Mentioned in this Episode:
Further Learning:
President Biden
What Just Happened?
Are Young People Losing Faith in Democracy?
China, Climate, Covid: The New Energy Map
What Trump Means to Us
Democracy for Sale
Trump Stress Test
Can Boris Survive Brexit?
One-Term Presidents
Michael Sandel on the Case Against Meritocracy
Robert Harris and V2
Jill Lepore on the Destructive Power of Tech
The Incompetence of Boris Johnson
The Politics of Loneliness
Thomas Piketty: Three Years On
Has Covid Rescued Europe?
Judith Butler: Then and Now
Brexit, Trump and Aldershot FC
Whose Work is it Anyway?
Revisiting Yuval Harari
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