Hosted to coincide and complement the main agenda of COP29, FTSessions @COP will host debates and discussions which will evaluate and reflecte on negotiations, announcements and agreements taking place during COP29.
The geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have triggered major disruptions in energy markets, leading to a reinvestment in fossil fuels as countries prioritise short-term energy security over long-term decarbonization. Trade tensions and protectionist policies can drive up the costs of renewable energy technologies, making it harder for countries to transition to cleaner energy sources, disproportionately affecting vulnerable regions that are more reliant on affordable renewable technology and financing from developed nations. Rising tensions and a fractured international landscape are threatening the coordination needed for global climate action, further delaying the energy transition.
- How will coordinated policy frameworks at the global and regional levels be critical to ensuring the alignment of energy security and climate action?
- What is the role of renewable energy in mitigating geopolitical risks and promoting energy independence?
- How can international partnerships be leveraged to ensure that the transition remains both affordable and equitable, especially for regions most vulnerable to climate change?
Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International
Rana Ghoneim, Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO
Robert Johnston, Senior Director of Research, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University
Jeff Oatham, Chief Sustainability Officer, DTEK
Pilita Clark, Columnist, Financial Times
