Obstacles to Energy Consensus in Congress
Columbia Energy Exchange
In today's polarized political landscape, energy policy has become increasingly partisan. States rich in both fossil fuels and renewable resources must confront growing electricity demand and aging infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing to defund critical energy projects under the Inflation Reduction Act while also opening new fossil energy development on public land. And congressional efforts at energy permitting reform have stalled despite broad agreement on the need to streamline approvals. So what will it take to move beyond four-year election cycles and develop an...
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Trump’s Mideast Diplomacy
Columbia Energy Exchange
President Trump's recent visit to the Gulf region marked a dramatic shift from the previous administration’s Middle East diplomacy. In his visit to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, Trump focused on securing significant investment commitments and commercial partnerships to support the region's AI and other ambitions. The trip showcased Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy—one focused on bilateral deals rather than regional frameworks, and economic partnerships over military interventions. It also raised important questions about oil markets, geopolitical competition...
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A Framework for Achieving Energy Equity
Columbia Energy Exchange
We often associate energy poverty with developing nations, but the reality is that tens of millions of Americans struggle to pay their monthly energy bills. Oftentimes, they forgo heating or cooling their homes in order to pay rent or buy food. And ultimately, they risk losing access to energy altogether, through utility shutoffs. For families living in inadequate housing with poor insulation and inefficient appliances, energy insecurity impacts health, comfort, and quality of life. For some, government assistance programs are a lifeline. Yet, despite rising energy rates, the Low-Income Home...
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Japan’s Shifting Energy Strategy
Columbia Energy Exchange
For years, Japan set aggressive decarbonization targets, positioning itself as a climate leader despite limited domestic resources. But recent geopolitical earthquakes like the ongoing war in Ukraine, increasing energy demand, and a near-blackout in Tokyo have forced Japan to reassess its priorities. Japan's new strategic energy plan, approved by the nation’s government in February, represents this shifting calculus. While maintaining long-term carbon neutrality goals, it elevates energy security concerns. And it introduces a "Plan B" that acknowledges technological deployment might not...
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Can Canada Become an Energy Superpower?
Columbia Energy Exchange
From oil pipelines crossing the border to integrated electricity grids, energy trade has long been a key part of the economic relationship between the United States and Canada. Now, President Trump’s trade policies are upending longstanding cooperative norms on both sides of the border. Last week’s snap election has brought a significant change in Canada’s leadership. Former central banker Mark Carney edged past Conservative Pierre Poilievre — a surprising win for the Liberal Party. This narrow margin of victory reflects a deeply divided electorate grappling with issues of economic...
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Energy’s Role in Ukraine Peace Talks
Columbia Energy Exchange
After more than three years of intense fighting following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the path to end the war has been challenging. President Trump has been aggressively pushing both Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin toward a peace deal as part of Trump's campaign promise to quickly end the war. Meanwhile, energy has emerged as a critical factor, functioning both as a weapon and target in this war. The peace deal Trump envisions would reportedly include U.S. control of the Ukrainian electrical supply and its nuclear power plants....
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The Nexus of Climate Policy and National Security
Columbia Energy Exchange
As President Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan laid out a strategy for what he called a “foreign policy for the middle class.” Using the metaphor of a small yard and a high fence, the Biden administration’s approach focused on reshoring critical industries and manufacturing, supporting innovation, and protecting strategic technologies. The strategy relied on industrial policy, tariffs, and sanctions — some of the same economic tools the Trump administration is now using to launch a global trade war. The broad shift on both sides of the aisle to focus on national...
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Trade War Turbulence and Clean Energy
Columbia Energy Exchange
It’s hard to overstate how consequential President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have been for American economic policy. While the administration has paused the steep reciprocal tariffs it announced on trading partners other than China, a flat across-the-board 10% tariff remains. And China has raised tariffs on all U.S. goods to over 100% in retaliation. Some economists fear this trade war could have a seismic impact across the American economy, including on clean energy. The exceptionally high tariffs on China in particular could have a significant bearing on clean tech...
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Front Lines of the Energy Transition
Columbia Energy Exchange
In energy policy circles, the word “resilience” often refers to future-proof systems or infrastructure designed for the transition away from fossil fuels. But resilience means something different to the communities that have been built on those conventional energy sources. Without a policy strategy, communities whose economies are dependent on fossil fuels aren’t well positioned to thrive in – or perhaps even survive – a clean energy transition. So how can economic resilience improve livelihoods in fossil fuel dependent communities? Are the near-term risks and economic...
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Europe's Energy Trilemma
Columbia Energy Exchange
The European Union’s energy landscape is transforming rapidly, as the bloc works to reduce emissions, lower energy prices, and decrease dependence on Russian fuel—three goals proving to be a challenge. Though renewables now generate nearly half of Europe's electricity, significant challenges remain. Lengthy permitting processes are stalling the deployment of new clean generation and infrastructure and the continent requires improvements in energy system interconnections between countries. And questions remain about the role of certain forms of energy, like nuclear power and hydrogen,...
info_outlineClimate change isn't just an environmental threat—it's becoming a catalyst for conflict.
Over the past decade, rising temperatures, water shortages, and other environmental disruptions have fueled tensions from the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Nepal. And according to journalist Peter Schwartzstein, we're witnessing the emergence of a new, dangerous phenomenon: climate-related violence.
In his new book, "The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence," Schwartzstein takes readers on a harrowing journey, revealing how climate change is fundamentally reshaping human conflict.
What happens when water becomes scarce? How do extreme weather events transform recruitment strategies for terrorist groups? And are even wealthy democracies vulnerable to this emerging form of societal stress?
Peter is an award-winning journalist specializing in climate security with extensive reporting experience across the Middle East and Africa. His work has been featured in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, and Foreign Policy. As a journalist who has been chased by kidnappers and has navigated dangerous environments to tell critical stories, Schwartzstein offers a unique, ground-level perspective on how climate change is reshaping global security.