Energy and Climate Change - Related

China—Leader or Laggard on the Path to a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Future?

jdunton — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

There has been a great deal of talk about whether and how China will manage its need to provide enough energy to ensure continued economic growth while avoiding the local and global environmental impacts of its energy production and use. To listen to the political discourse, China is either a global leader on clean energy technologies and transformation or the largest source of emissions with serious, systemic local environmental degradation. How can it at once be a low-carbon leader and a laggard?

Energy in the State of the Union: Not a Bad Place to Start

ecurran — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Last night, President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union address to Congress. The speech is being characterized by many in the media as many things: populist in tone, a campaign year positioning speech, and a mild tongue-lashing for Congress.

US and Iranian Strategic Competition In Sanctions, Energy, Arms Control, and Arms Transfers

sherry — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Tightening sanctions and Iran’s reactions have become a race against time. Every day brings a new event as the competition between the US and Iran plays out on a global level. The Burke Chair at CSIS is issuing a new report that puts this competition in a broader perspective, as part of its on-going series on US and Iranian strategic competition.

A Pragmatic Approach to Energy Policy: The President’s Job Council Report

ecurran — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Yesterday, the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness released a report, “Road Map to Renewal,” on a variety of ways to boost jobs and competitiveness in the United States.

A New Security Architecture for the Arctic

jdunton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Arctic will experience extraordinary economic and environmental change over the next several decades. Commercial, human, and state interaction will rise dramatically. More drilling for oil and gas in the region and growing shipping and ecotourism as new shipping routes come into existence are just a few of the examples of increased human activity in the Arctic.

Fracking and Seismic Activity

ecurran — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: Recent earthquake tremors centered on Youngstown, Ohio, have resurrected safety concerns related to hydraulic fracturing and shale gas extraction. Are the tremors related to fracking activity?

Critical Questions for 2012

ian — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

From international security and regional study to global challenges, CSIS experts will address many of the world's most difficult policy concerns and critical questions in 2012. To kick off the new year, we asked 25 of our scholars to identity what worries them most and what are the biggest opportunities in their respective areas of study.

Iran and the Threat to "Close" the Gulf

sherry — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

There is nothing new about Iran’s threat to close the Gulf, but it does need to be put in context. Iran is reshaping its military forces to steadily increase the threat to Gulf shipping and shipping in the Gulf of Oman, It also is gradually increasing its ability to operate in the Indian Ocean.

Energy and Development Trends

jdunton — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

One of the least understood but potentially important trends in the energy field is how emerging economies’ development priorities are shaping energy markets.

Integrating Nuclear Safety and Security: Policy Recommendations

jwoo — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This memo is based on discussions at the Integrating Nuclear Safety and Security: Operational and Policy Perspectives Workshop, held in Washington, D.C. at the US-Korea Institute on October 12, 2011.

Colombia: Post-Conflict Politics

Mgraybeal — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

UP CLOSE: Colombia's Post-Conflict Politics, Economic Reform in Cuba

IN BRIEF: Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Oil, and Inauguration Updates

Nonproliferation, Congress, and Nuclear Trade: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

jwoo — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Fukushima nuclear accident earlier this year undoubtedly has dampened the appetite of a few countries for nuclear power, but there are still many more that still seek to build nuclear power plants. Competition for this new business, given the relatively moribund growth of the last few decades, is fierce.

Much Ado about a Pipeline

ian — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. government is in the final stages of deciding whether a major new pipeline project bringing oil-sands-derived crude oil from Canada to the United States is in the U.S.

Partnership for Recovery and a Stronger Future

jdunton — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

When a magnitude 9.0 earthquake shook the earth beneath the Western Pacific on March 11, 2011, it unleashed a massive nine-meter tsunami toward the coast of the Tohoku region of Japan’s main island of Honshu.

U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition: The Sanctions game: Energy, Arms Control, and Regime Change

sherry — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

US competition with Iran has become the equivalent of a game of three-dimensional chess, but a game where each side can modify at least some of the rules with each move.

Hemisphere Insider Volume I, Issue 5- September 2011

cwatson — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

UP CLOSE: Venezuela's Midas Moves, Post 9/11 U.S.-Hemispheric Relations

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Security and Democracy in Central America, Disaster Response in the Dominican Republic

IN BRIEF: Mexico, Colombia, Oil and Trade Updates

Nuclear Safety and Security

ian — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

UN secretary general Ban-Ki Moon will host a High-Level Ministerial on Nuclear Safety and Security on September 22, 2011, in New York. This meeting is intended to “bridge the gap” between the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Nuclear Safety Ministerial and the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit in 2012 in Seoul.

A New Narrative for Mexico

cwatson — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

UP CLOSE: A New Narrative for Mexico

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Returning Government to Colombia's Post-conflict Zones

IN BRIEF: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Chile updates

Russia Looks East

jdunton — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Russia’s status as the world’s largest producer of hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas) today is principally the result of massive Soviet investments in western Siberian oil and gas fields dating back to the 1950s.

Iraq in Transition: Governance, Politics, Economics, and Petroleum

sherry — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The war in Iraq remains a critical aspect of US national security, and involves more vital US strategic interests than the conflict in Afghanistan. Estimates by the Energy Information Agency of the Department of Energy indicate that the US and global economy will not reduces their strategic dependence on the Gulf petroleum exports through 2035, and Iraq’s future alignments with

Venezuela’s House of Cards

ian — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez’s mysterious four-week disappearance and treatment for cancer in Cuba may or may not result in a momentous political event. Nonetheless, it underlines the faulty logic of surrendering too much control to one man.

Capacity and Resolve

jdunton — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The last decade has seen the United States involved in two wars, an ongoing worldwide struggle against terrorism, and more recently a severe economic recession. This period has exposed two great structural challenges facing the United States. First, in a globalized world, vectors of prosperity quickly become vectors of insecurity. And second, the center of gravity in world affairs is shifting to Asia.

The Future of Low Carbon Growth

ian — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In the wake of the economic crisis, the conversation about global cooperation to deal with climate change has shifted almost entirely to a discussion about the competitive economic advantage to be gained from leading in socalled clean energy technologies.

Nuclear Power after Fukushima

ian — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Japan’s tragic March 11 earthquake and tsunami have triggered the most serious nuclear emergency in 25 years and have raised questions about the future viability of nuclear power in the energy system around the world.

“NOPEC” Legislation and U.S. Energy Security

ian — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Following the recent spike in gasoline prices, the No Oil Producing Exporting Cartels (“NOPEC”) Act has once again gained popularity. The act seeks to hold OPEC member states liable for violations of U.S. antitrust legislation for what are seen as anticompetitive attempts to limit the world’s supply of petroleum.

U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel

jdunton — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The central planning approach to U.S. spent nuclear fuel management has been a glaring and unsuccessful exception to the trend toward a market-driven energy sector. This report envisions a market-driven approach, which would include eight components:

Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Water Management

jdunton — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On October 27, 2010, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the federal Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality (SWAQ) cohosted a participatory workshop on domestic and international water issues entitled “Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Water Management.” The event convened federal agency experts and influential thinkers from academia, nonprofit organizatio

Hemisphere Insider Volume I, Issue 2 - April/May 2011

cwatson — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In Brief:

Fukushima: What It Is and Isn’t

jdunton — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The enormous earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, triggered a crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power reactors that is still unfolding, watched cautiously by millions across the globe.

Japan's Energy Supply and Security since the March 11 Earthquake

ian — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011. In its wake, in addition to a mounting death toll and a trail of devastation, significant energy-related infrastructure was also rendered inoperable.

Libya: Three Possible Outcomes and the Role of Governance, Money, Gas, and Oil

sherry — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Us Strategic Competition With Iran: Energy, Economics, Sanctions, And The Nuclear Issue

sherry — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

American and Iranian tensions over Iran’s nuclear programs are part of a broad pattern of competition between the two countries. However, Iran’s nuclear program is only one of many interrelated areas in which Washington and Tehran struggle for influence.

Understanding Saudi Stability and Instability: A Very Different Nation

mentman — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Saudi Arabia is scarcely immune to protest and dissent, and has long struggled with the challenges of reform. What is most striking about the Kingdom over the past weeks of crisis, however, has been the lack of any major challenge to government and the way it functions

Pacific Partners

jdunton — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The United States and New Zealand are natural “Pacific Partners.” The two countries share fundamental values and overwhelming common interests. Their views align on appropriate norms and modalities for ensuring the Asia-Pacific region can prosper in a positive and peaceful environment. It is timely for a good relationship to be elevated to another level.

Hemisphere Highlights Volume X Issue 1 - February 2011

cwatson — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

HEADLINES

Presidential contests in five countries promise excitement this year, the first taking place in Haiti next month. All mix familiar candidates with fresh faces. Though there are early leaders in each race, the possibility of close contests or upsets should not be discounted.

Middle East Civil Unrest and Oil Prices

ian — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: How have increased political tensions and antigovernment demonstrations in the Middle East and North Africa affected global oil supplies?

The Impact of Egyptian Unrest on Oil Markets

mentman — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: Oil prices have moved steadily upward in the past few weeks. How will the crisis in Egypt affect price movements?

Potential Secure, Low Carbon Growth Pathways for the Chinese Economy

lhyland — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The CSIS Energy and National Security Program commissioned this paper as part of its ongoing work focused on the implications of secure, low carbon pathways. The following paper, prepared by Jiang Kejun of the Energy Research institute, part of the National Development and Reform Commission, outlines the possible pathways that China could follow to reach its energy and climate goals

Southern Sudan's Referendum

mentman — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The people of Southern Sudan are on the verge of making a momentous decision about the future of their country. They will vote in a referendum, beginning on January 9, on whether to remain united with the North or secede from Sudan and form an independent state. Almost 4 million southerners have registered to take part.

Energy and Climate Change Implications of the QDDR

mentman — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The QDDR included three relevant sections on energy and climate change, each of which elevates the importance of the energy and climate agenda in U.S. foreign and development policy.

Cancun Climate Negotiation

ian — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

For the last two weeks international climate negotiators met in Cancun, Mexico for the 16th Conference of Parties (COP) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

DPRK 'Collapse' Pathways: Implications for the Energy Sector and for Strategies of Redevelopment/Support

nanderson — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The prospect for the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and its leadership is bleak. Kim Jong Il‘s health is poor, so a succession is conceivable, albeit off unknown probability. There is little chance that the economic poverty of almost all North Koreans will change for the better.

Developing America's Unconventional Gas Resources

jdunton — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Access, higher prices, and advances in technology have made it possible to commercially develop unconventional gas resources. The magnitude and potential impact of this resource has attracted a great deal of public- and private-sector interest, as well as increasing scrutiny.

Hemisphere Highlights Volume IX Issue 9 - December 2010

cwatson — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

HEADLINES

PacNet #58 - Combatting Climate Change – We Need a New Process

bMizuno — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

United Nations climate change talks in Cancun commencing this month won’t yield concrete action to reduce carbon emissions. In fact, the premises underlying the UN climate change talks are flawed.

Managing the Challenge of Russian Energy Policies

jdunton — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Following the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, the leaders of Russia, including then-President Boris Yeltsin, searched for new methods of continuing to exert influence over the former Soviet-controlled region. The Kremlin at first used an energy blockade to the Baltic States in 1990 in an attempt to prevent their breakaway from the Soviet Union.

Green Dragons

jdunton — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The negotiations held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen in December 2009 fell well short of global expectations. The UNFCCC process is intended to reach an agreement in which near-term national interests are set aside in the interest of future generations of the world as a whole.

The Geopolitics of Energy

jdunton — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

For a variety of reasons—population growth, development, economics, investment and infrastructure needs, geopolitics, policy/governance, and the expected impacts of climate change, to name but a few—the current global energy system is unsustainable in its present form.

“America’s First Pacific President” Attends the Seoul G-20 Summit

mentman — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In the week following the November 2 midterm elections, President Barack Obama is scheduled to make several stops in Asia on his way to and from the November 11–12 G-20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea. Thus far, his itinerary includes visits to Indonesia, India, and Japan.

President Obama’s Trip to India

mentman — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Where does India stand in the Obama administration’s priorities? Why is President Obama going there?