Energy and Environment | Council on Foreign Relations

Responsible for powering the country and its economy, the U.S. energy grid has come under increasing strain due to climate change, and the threat of cyberattacks looms.

Backgrounder by James McBride and Anshu Siripurapu Jul 5, 2022

Batteries Not Included

A green future will depend on a vast supply of advanced batteries. As a result, global demand for lithium is outpacing supply.

Podcast by Gabrielle Sierra, Frank Fannon, Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, Asher Ross, Markus Zakaria, and Rafaela Siewert Feb 16, 2022

Energy and Climate Policy

The Dirty Energy Powering AI

What powers artificial intelligence (AI)? As global electricity use is surging, with unprecedented demand coming from an increase in data centers, AI’s dependence on fossil fuels presents a serious issue for the planet. In the United States, data center power usage is on track to double by 2030, largely due to the proliferation of AI technology. But while the application of AI shows potential to mitigate climate problems through modeling or predicting weather events, will its power grab stall the clean energy transition?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Varun Sivaram December 3, 2024 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Was COP29 in Azerbaijan a Failure?

The UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, was poorly organized, fell far short of goals for climate finance, and raised doubts about the ability of the COP process to halt alarming global warming trends.

Expert Brief by Alice C. Hill and Priyanka Mahat November 25, 2024 Energy Security and Climate Change Program
Climate Change

Women This Week: Deadlock at COP29 to Update UN Action Plan on Gender and Climate

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 16 to November 22.

Blog Post by Noël James and Uma Fox November 22, 2024 Women Around the World

Experts in this Topic

Alice C. Hill

David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment

Daniel B. Poneman

Senior Fellow

Varun Sivaram

Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate

Ukraine

U.S. ATACMS for Ukraine, COP29 Wraps Up, Cease-Fire Negotiations in Lebanon, and More

The White House authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made, long-range army tactical missile systems (ATACMS) missiles to hit targets within Russian territory; the UN climate change conference (COP29) wraps up in Baku, Azerbaijan, where progress on climate finance has been notably slow; negotiations for a cease-fire continues in the Middle East, with hopes for an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah; and thousands protest for Māori rights throughout New Zealand.

Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins November 21, 2024 The World Next Week
International Law

Trump Has Promised Swift, Bold Actions as President. Will They Be Legal?

Donald Trump could take several early actions as president that could draw legal scrutiny, including on immigration, climate, and security policy.

Article by John B. Bellinger III November 20, 2024 U.S. Foreign Policy Program
Climate Change

Climate Diplomacy: Watch What Countries Do, Not What They Say

World governments should focus on rapidly driving down the costs of clean energy, particularly in the power, transportation, and industrial sectors, to move the needle on climate change.

Expert Brief by David M. Hart November 18, 2024 Energy Security and Climate Change Program

Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Online Abuse Against Women Surges After U.S. Election

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 9 to November 15.

Blog Post by Noël James and Uma Fox November 15, 2024 Women Around the World
Latin America

How the Caribbean Is Building Climate Resilience

The Caribbean is bearing the brunt of climate change. Governments in the region are taking steps to combat it, but are they enough?

Backgrounder by Diana Roy November 13, 2024
United States

World Reacts to Trump Win, Israel’s Gaza Aid Deadline Nears, Azerbaijan’s Climate Summit, and More

World leaders express hopes for cooperation with the United States after former President Donald Trump’s comeback election win; Israel faces a deadline to increase humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip or risk restrictions on U.S. military funding; Azerbaijan prepares to host the twenty-ninth UN climate conference (COP29) as concerns grow that climate targets could fall short; and Moldova’s election spurs hopes of European Union ties.

Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins November 7, 2024 The World Next Week
Russia

Why Expanded BRICS Is Backing a Russia-Initiated Grain Exchange

In a move to reshape global agricultural trade, the 2024 BRICS Kazan Declaration has thrown its weight behind the creation of a BRICS Grain Exchange.

Blog Post by Zongyuan Zoe Liu and Nadia Clark October 31, 2024 Asia Unbound
Climate Change

COP29 Summit in Baku: What to Expect

The 2024 summit in Azerbaijan comes amid fresh reports showing that global warming levels are accelerating, bringing more intense climate-related disasters and an increased demand for funding to mitigate and protect communities from the effects of climate change.

Expert Brief by Alice C. Hill and Priyanka Mahat October 31, 2024 Energy Security and Climate Change Program
United States

Trade-offs in the Desert: RealEcon Visits Arizona

From semiconductors and water conservation to mining and the clean energy transition, Arizona is balancing trade-offs that will have important lessons for the country.

Article by Allison J. Smith and Matthew P. Goodman October 30, 2024 RealEcon
Election 2024

What’s at Stake for Foreign Policy in the 2024 Elections

On November 5, U.S. voters will choose new leadership, with ramifications for China, immigration, the Middle East, and many other national security issues. CFR experts weigh in.

Article by Diana Roy October 30, 2024
Climate Change

Understanding the Global Push for Climate Finance

Countries will collectively need to spend trillions of dollars to reach their decarbonization goals and protect the most vulnerable nations from climate disasters, but experts say that current funding levels lag behind what’s required to stave off and adapt to the worst effects of climate change.

Backgrounder by Clara Fong October 23, 2024
United States

U.S. Disaster Relief at Home and Abroad

The U.S. government responds to scores of disasters each year in coordination with foreign, state, and local partners, but more frequent and severe storms, fires, and floods are straining resources.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy , Amelia Cheatham and Rocio Cara Labrador October 23, 2024