Foreign Policy Blogs

Energy & Environment

Energy Security in North Korea: From Defiance to Survival

Energy Security in North Korea: From Defiance to Survival

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station photographing East Asia were surprised when they saw a ‘black hole’ between China and South Korea.

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Energy Could Keep U.S.-Russia Ties On Ice

Energy Could Keep U.S.-Russia Ties On Ice

By 2020, the U.S. could become the world’s third-largest LNG producer, cutting into Russia’s natural gas exports revenues and further weakening its economy.

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Libyan Oil: A Bittersweet Return?

Libyan Oil: A Bittersweet Return?

Libyan oil coming back online could jeopardize a fragile production cut deal orchestrated by producers cartel OPEC to rebalance the global oil supply glut.

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Who Will Lead on Climate in the Age of Trump?

Who Will Lead on Climate in the Age of Trump?

Last year, the world celebrated the Paris climate deal. Less than a year later, elation has turned into depression. Who will assume leadership now?

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Climate Change: What Would Hillary Clinton Do?

Climate Change: What Would Hillary Clinton Do?

Hillary Clinton has put out an enormous number of climate change policy proposals. She may not be able to implement very many of them.

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What We Get Wrong about Climate Change Solutions

What We Get Wrong about Climate Change Solutions

Politics matter. Climate change policies, such as carbon levies and emissions trading, need to reflect political conditions on the ground.

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Stability in Libya Remains in Doubt

Stability in Libya Remains in Doubt

Many had hoped that the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011 would herald a new era for Libya. Yet, five years later, stability remains a long-off goal.

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Pioneer School Providing An Amazing Opportunity

Pioneer School Providing An Amazing Opportunity

Electricity provides a way out of poverty, offering the ability to connect with the outside world and to relay events domestically and globally.

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Time for Public-Private Partnership Innovations in Natural Disaster Insurance?

Time for Public-Private Partnership Innovations in Natural Disaster Insurance?

Global warming has heightened the probability of catastrophic natural disasters, challenging the risk management capability of governments.

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Libya: Still a Fractured Land

Libya: Still a Fractured Land

Disagreement over how money from the country’s oil, which represents 98% of government revenue, should be distributed is paralyzing Libyan peace efforts.

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Dammed If You Do, Damned If You Don’t: Cooperation in the Nile Basin

Dammed If You Do, Damned If You Don’t: Cooperation in the Nile Basin

Issues like water governance and cross-border coordination of energy supply are likely to become much more thorny diplomatic exercises to deal with.

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Saudi Arabia and the End of the Rentier State

Saudi Arabia and the End of the Rentier State

With a young, restless population and decreased oil revenues, Saudi Arabia needs to abandon its rentier economic system and build a more sustainable model.

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The Energy Sector: A Prime Target for Cyber Attacks

The Energy Sector: A Prime Target for Cyber Attacks

U.S. lawmakers are concerned about the lack of preparation for a possible long term power outage caused by a cyber-attack against the energy sector.

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Why We Should Not Abandon Saudi Arabia

Why We Should Not Abandon Saudi Arabia

Beset by challenges ranging from the collapse in oil prices, to the spreading instability in the region, to criticism from its longtime allies in the United States, Saudi Arabia is facing its most difficult test in decades. But the kingdom has the means to overcome these difficulties, and also has the will to seize a unique opportunity to carry out important reforms.

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The Five Oil Exporters Most Affected by Currency Devaluation

The Five Oil Exporters Most Affected by Currency Devaluation

Devaluation is the word of the day in oil exporting countries. Whether it is the Nigerian naira, the Venezuelan bolívar, or the Russian rouble, low oil prices are wreaking havoc in oil exporting economies and on their national currencies.

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