Research
Towards a low-carbon energy sector
Global Energy Power Shifts
Transition to a global low-carbon energy sector will almost certainly involve major changes in existing international energy relations. For some countries, these changes will be positive; for others negative. The result of these power shifts might be that "old" political tensions will be resolved, but new political tensions might arise in their place. The focus of this research is to identify what kind of power shifts might occur, to what extent these changes might give rise to tensions, and how tensions can be prevented from becoming conflicts.
The main questions to be addressed in this theme include:
- What will be the role of the present oil and gas producers in a low-carbon energy sector?
- How can access to energy be provided to all those that are presently deprived of this access, while meeting the accompanying energy demand growth with low-carbon energy sources?
- What are the political consequences of new energy technologies?