Ep 253: The Mother Of All Energy Crises
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, joins Cleaning Up
The news agenda this year has been entirely dominated by energy related stories, whether it’s the war in Europe being pursued by Russia — formerly Europe’s most significant energy provider — the U.S. capturing the head of state of Venezuela — which has some of the biggest oil reserves in the world — or the ongoing attack by Israel and the U.S. on Iran and all its ramifications.
But there is also another story, which is the long term rift between the U.S. and the rest of the world about whether and how fast we should be addressing climate change.
This week on Cleaning Up, Michael Liebreich is joined by Dr Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, for his third appearance on the podcast. He discusses the International Energy Agency’s integral role in trying to steer the world through the current energy crisis, how he sees the global energy system change in response to the crisis, and how his organisation is facing up to criticism from the US over its net-zero scenarios.
Fatih and Michael discuss:
Why the current crisis could surpass the oil shocks of the 1970s
How the International Energy Agency is helping stabilize global markets
Efficiency measures and the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Why solar, batteries, and nuclear may surge amid the chaos
Why countries are looking toward coal to fill the gap
Whether energy security is now overtaking climate as the top priority
The growing divide between the U.S. and global institutions on climate policy
And why Birol insists: “Data always wins.”
As Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih has positioned the Agency at the centre of global efforts to advance a secure, affordable, and sustainable energy system. Dr Birol joined the IEA in the mid-1990s and progressed from junior analyst to Chief Economist, where he oversaw the flagship World Energy Outlook.
He has been included in the TIME100 list of the world’s most influential figures and recognised by Forbes as one of the world’s most influential figures in energy. He chairs the World Economic Forum’s Energy Advisory Board and is an honorary life member of Galatasaray Football Club.
Watch the full episode now on YouTube, or find it on your favourite podcasting platform.