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Energy Explained
Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.
EU’s Proposed Tariffs on Steel to Address Excess Capacity and Enable Decarbonization Could Worsen Trade Tensions
The European Commission released a proposed regulation on Oct. 7 that would replace the EU's existing "safeguard" duties on imported steel products set to expire in June 2026.
Podcasts
Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
‘The Return of the Energy Weapon’
Energy has long been used as a weapon. The United Kingdom blocked oil exports to Germany during World War I. Hitler’s fall was due in part to losing...
Events
Find out more about our upcoming and past events.
October 27, 2025
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
edt
Rapid Response: Unpacking Recent Sanctions on Russian Oil
On October 22, the United States Department of the Treasury announced the imposition of sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, as a penalty for...
Webinar
• Webinar
The steel and cement industries are enormous and vital components of the global economy. Together, they account for roughly 16% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the cement and steel industry were a country, it would be the third largest emitter. Both industries are referred to as “hard-to-abate” sectors because of the perceived challenges in reducing their carbon emissions.
But innovations in technology and policy are changing the way experts look at these industries, opening new doors to decarbonization strategies. They’re also causing new rifts in global trade relations, as countries vie for dominance over emerging low-carbon solutions.
What are the best strategies for decarbonizing the steel and cement industries? How much progress have we made? And how is the emerging low-carbon steel and cement trade reshaping international relations?
This week host Jason Bordoff talks with Chris Bataille about the prospects for decarbonizing the steel and cement industries.
Chris is an adjunct research fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, where he studies technology and policy pathways to net zero, with a focus on industrial decarbonization. He is an associate researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations and an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University. He was also a contributing author to the IPCC 6th Assessment Report.
More Episodes
‘The Return of the Energy Weapon’
Energy has long been used as a weapon. The United Kingdom blocked oil exports to Germany during World War I. Hitler’s fall was due in part to losing...
What Drives ‘Breakneck’ Development in China?
Trade tensions between the US and China have hit a new high mark. Last week, after China announced plans to ratchet up its export controls of some rare-earths...
Building a New Energy Industrial Strategy
Industrial policy, supply chain security, and economic competitiveness are central to how we think about clean energy deployment. As the Trump administration pulls back federal support for the...
Is Permitting Reform About to Break Through?
Last year, an energy permitting reform bill sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso passed out of committee but failed to gain full support in the US...
Relevant
Publications
Six Key Issues That Defined Climate Week 2025
CGEP scholars reflect on some of the standout issues of the day during this year's Climate Week
Blog
by Erica Downs, Dave Turk, Kate Guy, Gautam Jain, Luisa Palacios, David Sandalow, Vivek Shastry & Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh • October 10, 2025
India’s Ambitious Green Steel Plan Hinges on Mitigating Coal
Amid plans to nearly double its steel production capacity by 2030 to serve its growing infrastructure needs, the world’s No. 2 steel producer India has released plans to reduce greenhouse gases from the sector, which account for about 10 percent of the nation’s total emissions.
Triggering Investment in First-of-a-Kind and Early Near-Zero Emissions Industrial Facilities
This report explores financial policy instruments that can make first-of-a-kind (FOAK) near-zero emission industrial facilities viable.
Reports
by Chris Bataille, Seton Stiebert, Jonas Algers + 2 more • August 01, 2024
Response to DOE Request for Feedback on New Zero Emissions Building Definition
The following document includes the responses submitted to the Department of Energy following the request for information on proposed national definition of a zero emissions building.
Summaries
by Harry Kennard • February 22, 2024
