Morningside Campus Status Updates

Current Access Level “I” – ID Only: CUID holders, alumni, and approved guests only

Energy Explained

Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.

Podcasts

Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.

Events

Find out more about our upcoming and past events.

Events
Events

Energy, Development and Climate Change: How development successes are fundamentally altering the global energy landscape

Past Event

April 23, 2019

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

As recently as 2000, industrialized countries consumed more than half of the world’s energy resources. Today, about fifteen years later, more than half of the world’s energy is being consumed in developing countries where there are over 6 billion energy consumers . . . and their share of consumption is expected to increase over the next several decades, more than doubling industrialized country consumption by 2040. And with these changes, the center of gravity of the energy landscape is shifting to the developing world. From investments to energy flows to emissions, developing countries will be the key drivers going forward. Notwithstanding this shift, developing countries still remain relatively poor compared to the OECD and other advanced economies. For example, even China, the world’s second largest economy, has a GDP per capita that is still a fraction of OECD countries, while India, Indonesia and other developing countries face even larger poverty gaps. How these countries use energy to raise the standards of living of their populations will not only determine their own development but will have global implications, notably on the effort to address climate change. Philippe Benoit will discuss some of the dynamics driving the use of energy to promote development and their implications for addressing the climate change challenge. Speaker bio: Philippe Benoit is currently Adjunct Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University leading the work of its Center on Global Energy Policy in the area of energy for development. He is also a senior associate (non-resident) with the Center on Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC. He has worked in the area of energy, development and climate change for over 20 years, including as head of the Energy Environment Division at the International Energy Agency, as Energy Sector Manager for the World Bank, and as Director-Energy Project Finance for SG Investment Bank. He has a BA from Yale University, a JD from Harvard Law School, and a DESS from the University of Paris I, Pantheon-Sorbonne. Event is co-sponsored by the Economic and Political Development Concentration, Energy and Environment Concentration and the Center on Global Energy Policy.

Related

More Events

April 18, 2025 • 10:00 am - 11:00 am edt

Ukraine Peace Talks: How Energy is Taking Center Stage

Please join the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA for a rapid response briefing with Kadri Simson, CGEP Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Institute of Global Politics Carnegie Distinguished Fellow,...

Event
Ukraine Peace Talks: How Energy is Taking Center Stage
April 29, 2025 • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm edt

Stabilizing Your Career in a Rapidly Changing Industry

Please join the Women in Energy initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA for a public roundtable featuring Claire Steichen, Founder of Clear Strategy Coaching. The fast-evolving energy...

Event • Online
Stabilizing Your Career in a Rapidly Changing Industry
April 17, 2025 • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm edt

Student Roundtable with Sunaina Ocalan

Please join the Women in Energy initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA for a student roundtable lunch and discussion with Sunaina Ocalan, who will discuss...

Event • Center on Global Energy Policy
1255 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10027
Student Roundtable with Sunaina Ocalan
April 15, 2025 • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm edt

Student Roundtable with Kadri Simson

Please join the Women in Energy initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA for a student roundtable lunch and discussion with Kadri Simson, who most recently...

Event • Center on Global Energy Policy
1255 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10027
Student Roundtable with Kadri Simson
Our Work

Relevant
Publications

See All Work