Reports

The Biden White House may be repeating old mistakes by turning its back on Saudi Arabia, an ally, and offering leverage to Tehran, a foe. Undermining the powers that be in Riyadh – just as progress on reforms is being made – could have disastrous consequences

The start-up of a new reactor in the United Arab Emirates has again trained the spotlight on nuclear capabilities in the Middle East. Outside of Iran’s controversial program, Saudi Arabia’s budding nuclear ambitions could prove the most destabilizing in the region. As its technology advances, Riyadh will soon have to ...

Germany has recently adopted a new hydrogen strategy and is aiming to push a European Union-wide policy on the chemical element. Hydrogen can deliver and store energy, and it can do so in clean, secure and affordable ways. The key question is which methods of production will gain traction – ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that businesses need to take a hard look at their supply chains and governments need to reevaluate their emergency planning for crucial infrastructure. Here, the energy sector has some lessons that can be implemented to address the shortcomings of the healthcare sector. But ...

The European Commission’s Green Deal sets extremely ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in environmentally friendly technologies. Yet the huge amount of funding that will be required could fail to materialize, due to intra-EU disagreements over budget rules and debt ceilings. And if other big polluters don’t ...

When Angela Merkel finishes her term as German chancellor in 2021, it will mark the end of an era. Love her or hate her, this shrewd political operator has had a huge impact on Germany, Europe and the wider geopolitical scene. This GIS Dossier compiles our experts’ analysis of her ...

Despite repeated warnings of a “digital Pearl Harbor,” advanced economies such as the United States and the European Union are more exposed to cyberattacks than ever. These vulnerabilities can be traced to the spread of new digital technologies, the electrification of transport and heating systems, robotics and artificial intelligence. That ...

How fast the world moves toward cleaner energy hinges on several difficult-to-predict factors, including climate change policies, the glut in oil and gas markets and disruptive technologies. What seems sure is that renewable energy sources won’t overtake fossil fuels in the medium term and that natural gas will loom larger ...

Since the 1990s, the international community has been trying to keep climate change under control – with less than stellar results. Despite initiatives like the 1997 Kyoto Protocol or the 2015 Paris Agreement, global temperatures are still well on track to increase by 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels – ...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has harnessed identity politics to shake up India’s inefficient economy and turn it into a global player. At home and abroad, he has proved an adept operator. Geopolitically, Mr. Modi’s most important move is an increasingly obvious realignment with the U.S., as part of a long-term ...

China is pushing to become the leading exporter of civilian nuclear technology. Its first domestically designed reactor is a hard sell abroad due to regulatory barriers and safety concerns, and the market for nuclear power is stagnant at best. Beijing, however, can afford to offer incentives to buyers and is ...

While Russia’s military activity in the Middle East has caught headlines, its economic footprint in the region is increasing as well. Much of the cooperation is occurring in the energy sector, but Moscow is not interested in the region’s natural resources. Instead, it is working on establishing a long-term foothold.

When total outlays for a nuclear energy plant are considered, from construction to accident prevention to decommissioning costs, nuclear energy is an expensive proposition. The companies that export this technology and their governments are going the extra mile to attract foreign buyers and see the deals through because their benefits ...

China faces three big challenges in its energy strategy: reducing pollution, mitigating the negative effects of climate change and securing overland supply. The country has made huge investments to achieve its goals, but macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties could yet derail Beijing’s plans. In the end, China is likely to be ...

India is making a big push to finally join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which sets global rules on the spread of nuclear technology. Becoming a member is crucial for India, since it would solidify its ability to import and export nuclear technology freely. Without this, its nuclear energy sector could ...

Relations between the United States and India are taking on a greater significance amid a climate of heightened Sino-US tensions, now focused on Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea and efforts to extend its naval influence into the Indian Ocean. In response, Washington and New Delhi have drawn closer ...

Energy is a potent currency in geopolitical relations. For an example, look no further than Europe, where France and Russia have been engaged in an unspoken struggle for primacy in the nuclear power industry. At first France took the lead, as Areva looked like a global champion that could potentially ...

While Japan’s economy may be back on track after last year’s nuclear crisis following the earthquake and tsunami, it has yet to decide what to do about its nuclear industry. It could be free of nuclear power by the summer of next year, but more because of culturally-driven indecisiveness than ...