This website uses cookies as well as similar tools and technologies to understand visitors’ experiences. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Columbia University’s usage of cookies and similar technologies, in accordance with the Columbia University Website Cookie Notice.
Energy Explained
Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.
3 Coming Flashpoints in Climate Geopolitics
World leaders are meeting in New York this month at the request of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss the state of global ambition on climate change.
Podcasts
Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
US Energy Policy in a Partisan Era
Following the rollback of key climate provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, the debate over America's energy future is increasingly contentious. The passage of the One Big Beautiful...
Events
Find out more about our upcoming and past events.
October 9, 2025
• 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
edt
Exploring Energy Careers: Insights and Connections
The Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA's Women in Energy initiative, in collaboration with the Columbia Policy Institute, invites you to join us for Exploring...
Event
• International Affairs Building,
Columbia SIPA
Columbia SIPA
Podcast
Can U.S. Coal Make a Comeback?
August 28, 2017
Guest
Trevor Houser
Partner at Rhodium Group
Over the last six years coal prices have gone from record highs to plummeting lows, putting three of the four largest U.S. coal firms into bankruptcy. Although coal mining employment has been declining for decades, Donald Trump campaigned for the U.S. presidency on a platform that promised to reverse what he called his predecessor’s “war on coal.” Since taking office, the new administration has begun to reverse Obama-era environmental policies, and is fielding increasing calls from policymakers and industry alike to do more for coal firms and jobs. This month, West Virginia governor Jim Justice proposed that the federal government provide subsidies to revive the Appalachian coal industry, calling the issue a matter of national security. Yet the Trump Administration rejected a coal industry push to win a rarely used emergency order to protect coal-fired power plants, a decision that has angered some coal executives.
To put all of these recent developments into context, host Jason Bordoff sits down with Trevor Houser, a partner at the Rhodium Group, to discuss a report they co-authored together with Peter Marsters this year–Coal Make a Comeback?–about the U.S. coal industry, its decline, and prospects for its recovery.
More Episodes
US Energy Policy in a Partisan Era
Following the rollback of key climate provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, the debate over America's energy future is increasingly contentious. The passage of the One Big Beautiful...
Is ‘Gold Standard’ for Energy Data in Trouble?
Everyone from energy executives to traders on Wall Street to policymakers across the US depend on accurate, timely information about energy production, consumption, and trends. At the heart...
The Power of a Russia-China Energy Deal
Before it invaded Ukraine, Russia was Europe's single largest supplier of imported natural gas. But now that the European Union is considering an outright ban on all Russian...
Columbia Energy Exchange Podcast
with Anne-Sophie Corbeau
, Tatiana Mitrova
and Erica Downs
• September 9, 2025
What’s Shaping GOP Energy Policy?
The rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has reshaped America's climate and energy landscape by cutting tax incentives for wind and...
Relevant
Publications
3 Coming Flashpoints in Climate Geopolitics
World leaders are meeting in New York this month at the request of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss the state of global ambition on climate change.
How to Fully Operationalize Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
A key component of the Paris Agreement is Article 6, which introduces a framework to facilitate voluntary cooperation between―primarily using carbon credit trading―to help achieve their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) more cost-effectively.
Climate Finance (CliF) Vulnerability Index: Technical Methodology
The Climate Finance (CliF) Vulnerability Index is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of climate vulnerability for nation states in order to improve the targeting and provision of climate change adaptation financing.
External Publications
with Gautam Jain & Andrew Kamau •
Columbia University Academic Commons
• May 21, 2025
Energy Abundance Alone Won’t Fix the Climate
Energy abundance isn't a climate strategy—it delays clean energy progress, harms global cooperation, and repeats past policy mistakes.