Introduction 101 with Eurasia Group – part 2

08/12/20 • 35 min

The second part of inspiratia’s inaugural episode of its new podcast series Geopolitics of Energy sheds lights on the energy transition’s reliance on raw materials and the risks behind finite resources

Our Introduction 101 episode concludes with a second part which focuses on the non-renewable raw materials and metals that will be vital for the clean energy transition. With the value of strategic minerals for the production of new technologies increasing, this creates a series of new opportunities, but also threats.

How is the international community navigating these new strategic balances? What new international trade relations are being readied?

The same principle applies to finite fossil-fuel sources, with traditional major exporters facing the risk of becoming "stranded countries". How can the energy community work together to tackle this major geopolitical and economic risk?

Maritina Kanellakopoulou and Marco Dell'Aquila continue their discussion with Eurasia Group's Rohitesh Dhawan.

How is the international community navigating these new strategic balances? What new international trade relations are being readied?

Maritina Kanellakopoulou and Marco Dell'Aquila continue their discussion with Eurasia Group's Rohitesh Dhawan.

Previous Episode

Introduction 101 with Eurasia Group – part 1

The inaugural episode of inspiratia's new podcast series Geopolitics of Energy offers a wide introduction to how the colossal paradigm shift of the clean energy transition is disrupting the field of geopolitics as we know it

For the first episode, co-hosted by Maritina Kanellakopoulou, senior analyst at inspiratia and Marco dell'Aquilla, inspiratia's co-founder and chairman, and professor of energy resources and environment at the school of advanced international studies at Johns Hopkins University, we had the pleasure to be joined by Rohitesh Dhawan, managing director – energy, climate & resources at Eurasia Group, a global political research and consulting firm.

The two-part introductory episode breaks down the fundamental geopolitical assumptions we have been making for years, and analyses how these are heavily impacted.

For example, how has the role of the nation-state evolved in the context of international collaboration and international politics? Is the state the most powerful player in the global system? How are the strategies of countries which have been blessed with significant reserves of non-renewable and mostly polluting natural energy resources changing in the wake of the clean energy transition?

Will clean electricity become a commodity equally strategic to oil or gas? Could we see the emergence of new energy exporters, and what role will hydrogen play amongst this?

Next Episode

Geopolitics of Energy: Spotlight on the EU Green Deal

The new episode of the Geopolitics of Energy podcast series discusses the structuring details of European Union's Green New Deal and its role in the continent’s future in the global geopolitical landscape
In December 2019, the European Commission presented Europe's Green Deal – EU's statement growth strategy to enhance its role as a global climate leader.

With the updated climate strategy, Europe pledged to become the first continent to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050, decouple economic growth from resource use, and to ensure a just transition for all.

For the third episode of the series, co-hosts Maritina Kanellakopoulou and Marco Dell'Aquila welcome Simone Tagliapietra, Research fellow at Bruegel – a European think tank focusing on economic policy – and Adjunct Professor at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe.

The three discuss some critical considerations of the Green Deal, the breakthrough structural additions that differentiate the new initiative from Europe's past climate plans, its geopolitical implications for Europe's state-members and trade partners, and the challenges that still need further focus.

What is the potential of the milestone Just Transition Mechanism, which aims to support the countries more exposed to the threats of the energy transition? Which countries are expected to use it the most? How is EU's energy policy changing in the wake of the new plan? What are the lessons from the economic scars from past energy policy gaps, inside and outside Europe, that led to social injustices and deprived communities?
Listen to the episode to discover more.