CFR.org - Energy/Environment

In Defense of Tesla's Price Tag

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:51:15 -0400

According to Michael Levi , "selling Teslas (TSLA) to wealthy people today may be the best way to get electric cars to everyone tomorrow, and for the United States to eventually reduce its dependence on oil, with all the national security and economic benefits that entails."

Weatherproofing Cities to Face Future Sandys

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:14:00 -0400

Peter Orszag writes that making cities more resilient to the challenges of stormwater runoff is a wise investment to minimize climate change-related damage.

Media Conference Call: Michael Levi and Peter Orszag on America's Energy Future

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:40:54 -0400

CFR Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment and author of The Power Surge Michael A. Levi and former Office of Management and Budget director discuss America's energy future.

We Don't Need Exotic Fuels to Cook the Earth, Coal Will Do

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:46:37 -0400

Michael Levi discusses different ways to deal with climate change.

CRS: Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:26:25 -0400

Many observers have noted that the loss of Arctic ice is already leading to stepped-up human activity in the high north, particularly in the form of increasing commercial traffic and development. This trend has brought forth a range of issues on the geopolitical front, from environmental protection to search-and-rescue capabilities to the delineation of national boundaries—which will determine access to natural resources. These concerns are being addressed cooperatively in both bilateral and multilateral fashion, especially under the aegis of the Arctic Council and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Atlantic: What If We Never Run Out of Oil?

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:03:24 -0400

The Atlantic's Charles Mann discusses the possibility that fossil fuels might last longer than we think, presenting unexplored opportunities and risks.

National Security Advisor Donilon's Remarks at the Launch of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, April 2013

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:15:51 -0400

National Security Advisor Tom Donilon spoke at the launch of Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy on April 24, 2013. He discussed the effects of U.S energy policy on the economy, environment, international relations, and national security.

America's Energy Opportunity

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:56:51 -0400

The U.S. energy revolution is not confined to a single fuel or technology: oil and gas production, renewable energy, and fuel-efficient automobile technologies all show great promise. To best position the country for the future, U.S. leaders should capitalize on all these opportunities rather than pick a favorite; the answer lies in 'most of the above.'

Grading the World On Our Biggest Problems

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:48:24 -0400

In conjunction with the release of CFR's first Global Governance Report Card and Earth Day, Stewart Patrick asks, "When it comes to addressing the world's gravest ills, how are we doing?"

Pushing Past the Prius Toward an All-Electric Car

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:54:36 -0400

In the final Bloomberg View excerpt of his forthcoming book The Power Surge, Michael Levi explores the future of hybrid and electric vehicles.

More U.S. Oil Probably Won’t Destroy the Climate

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:12:14 -0400

According to Michael Levi in this serial of The Power Surge, decreasing demand "is the only real path to confronting the climate consequences of abundant oil."

Why More U.S. Oil May Not Mean Cheaper U.S. Gas

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:51:24 -0400

In the first Bloomberg View excerpt of his forthcoming book The Power Surge, Michael Levi writes, "Oil markets are often as much about politics as economics, and predicting future political twists and turns should be done with care."

The Future of the Arctic: A New Global Playing Field

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:55:22 -0400

Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson discusses the international economic, environmental, and security implications of a changing Arctic region.

The Future of the Arctic: A New Global Playing Field

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:38 -0400

Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson discusses the international economic, environmental, and security implications of a changing Arctic region.

The Future of the Arctic: A New Global Playing Field

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:15 -0400

Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson discusses the international economic, environmental, and security implications of a changing Arctic region.

What issues concerning natural resources require greater exploration by the research and policy communities?

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:42:19 -0400

What is needed is not more research on what causes the resource curse, but better and more practical thinking and writing on how countries can avoid it.

What is the impact of the economic crisis on the climate change debate?

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:24:23 -0400

The global economic crisis and the subsequent attention to economic and budgetary issues have monopolized the political debate. With the aftermath of the crisis still being felt, there is not much political will for policies that may create short-term economic pain for long-term benefits. These include policies to combat or adapt to climate change.

Egypt’s Financial High Noon

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:38:48 -0400

Isobel Coleman writes that while it is widely recognized that food and fuel subsidies in Egypt are expensive and inefficient, Egyptian leaders do not want to touch the political third rail of subsidy reform. But they also realize that the country's fiscal situation is untenable without it. Sooner or later, serious subsidy reform is inevitable, and a well-planned process is preferable to the alternative.

Conservation and Sustainability: The Role of the Private Sector

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:38:04 -0400

Donna A. Harman, Beth Keck, and David T. Perry discuss efforts taken by their respective organizations to achieve environmental and sustainability goals along their global supply chains, citing social and ethical imperatives as primary drivers. This meeting is part of the Global Resources, the U.S. Economy, and National Security symposium, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and Conservation International.

Scarcity and Security in Africa

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:01:04 -0400

Jendayi Frazer, Juergen Voegele, and Gary Weir flesh out the drivers of scarcity and security challenges related to natural resources in Africa, focusing on natural resource management. This meeting is part of the Global Resources, the U.S. Economy, and National Security symposium, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and Conservation International.

Natural Capital: Are Resources Scarce or Sustainable?

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:15:39 -0400

Blake Clayton, Geoff Dabelko, and Greg Stone discuss natural capital accounting and valuing ecosystem services as key components in promoting sustainable natural resource management, while noting the role of technology in overcoming perceived natural resource scarcity. This meeting is part of the Global Resources, the U.S. Economy, and National Security symposium, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and Conservation International.

With renewable energy sources in countries like Brazil and Bolivia, will U.S. energy policy shift toward South America?

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:32:41 -0400

The global energy map is being redrawn at an accelerated pace. All signs point to the United States becoming part of an increasingly hemispheric energy trade, both for oil as well as for biofuels like ethanol. The Middle East will still loom large in U.S. energy policy given its crucial role in the world oil market, but U.S. energy officials and companies are forging deeper ties with their counterparts elsewhere in the Americas.

What can international organizations do to support civil institutions in developing states?

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:34:19 -0400

Civil institutions are critical pillars of democratic accountability—without them, democracy remains elusive, regardless of the laws written in constitutions. This is particularly true in countries dependent on oil and other natural resource wealth, and those struggling to realize democratic transitions.

Lloyd's: Arctic Opening: Opportunity and Risk in the High North

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:57:58 -0400

The Arctic region is undergoing unprecedented and disruptive change. Its climate is changing more rapidly than anywhere else on earth. Rising temperatures are causing a retreat of sea ice and changes to seasonal length, weather patterns and ecosystems. These changes have prompted a reassessment of economic and development potential in the Arctic and are giving rise to a set of far-reaching political developments.

IAEA Director General Amano's Remarks to the Board of Governors, March 2013

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:25:06 -0500

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano gave these remarks to the Board of Governor on March 4, 2013, to open IAEA's first meeting of 2013. As mentioned in the press release and Amano's remarks, the meeting will discuss the Fukushima nuclear accident, nuclear safety, nuclear energy, and safeguards in North Korea and Iran.

A Light in the Forest

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:39:22 -0500

Since 1988, Brazilians have cleared more than 153,000 square miles of Amazonian rain forest, devastating the environment and driving global climate change forward ever faster. Recently, however, Brazil has changed its course, reducing the rate of deforestation by 83 percent since 2004. At the same time, it has become a test case for a controversial international climate-change prevention strategy that places a monetary value on the carbon stored in forests.

The Hidden Risks of Energy Innovation

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:40:51 -0500

Michael A. Levi writes that "climate change needs to be confronted," but that an overemphasis on clean technology could lead to new conflicts.

Climate Change and the Obama Administration

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:00:23 -0500

Michael A. Levi, CFR's David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment, and director of the program on energy security and climate change, leads a conversation on President Obama's climate change policies.

The Power Surge

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:47:48 -0500

A groundbreaking analysis of what the changes in American energy mean for the economy, national security, and the environment, authored by one of America's most prominent experts on energy's role in the world.

'Energy Independence' Alone Won’t Boost U.S. Power

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:09:32 -0500

Megan L. O'Sullivan says, "strength in the energy domain can be a major driver of U.S. influence."