energy democracy

Turkey, as a major country in the EU neighbourhood, highly relevant to EU-China green relations. Renewable energy is at the centre of how the EU-China competition-collaboration nexus unfolds in Turkey, and is directly affected by the country’s macroeconomic and political dynamics.

The causes of the current global gas crisis are now well understood. Europe finds itself the convergence zone of two supply challenges, related to a shortfall of pipeline supplies and simultaneously an inability to attract deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Consequently, going into winter storage levels are low, and prices are extremely high. But the UK has been singled out as being more vulnerable than most, why is this so and what lessons can be learnt from the current situation?

Although the epicenter of the world’s petro- economy, countries in the Middle East understand the need to diversify away from fossil fuels. To do so, some also bet on nuclear energy. The need to transition is most strongly driven by broader regional priorities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and grow the economy while also providing jobs for the increasing population of young people. At first glance, nuclear seems an apt tool to help the region meet these dual objectives. However, Middle Eastern countries would be better served by investing resourced pegged to nuclear in the more promising solar and wind industries.

New nuclear power costs about 5 times more than onshore wind power per kWh. Nuclear takes 5 to 17 years longer between planning and operation and produces on average 23 times the emissions per unit electricity generated. In addition, it creates risk and cost associated with weapons proliferation, meltdown, mining lung cancer, and waste risks. Clean, renewables avoid all such risks.

Can nuclear energy help us meet climate goals? Mycle Schneider, editor of the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR), which assesses the status and trends of the global nuclear power industry, says no. Interview courtesy of DW.

Climate campaigner Andy Gheorghiu takes stock of a 2020 full of climate activism in Europe and the World, and pencils the main climate policy milestones to look forward to in 2021.

MEP Michael Bloss takes stock of the negotiations on the EU Climate Law, and on the performance of the German EU Council Presidency, in the wake of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Our EastMed dossier concludes with the article of Emre İşeri, where he suggests seeing the matter primarily from an environmental perspective.

Can the geopolitical crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean be overcome by an increased regional cooperation?

The peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict between Turkey and Greece would also help secure the stability and prosperity of today’s Europe.

One can ask whether natural resources can facilitate peace and stability in the Mediterranean once the initial political barriers are lowered and region-wide resource development takes off. This article first surveys the energy landscape of the Mediterranean focusing on the factors affecting the pace of resource development. The analysis then zeroes in on Turkey and its regional strategy.