Podcasts

Back

The Fragility Paradox: Energy Systems and Technological Vulnerabilities

10
January 2025
Helmut Sorge, Duncan Wood

Our modern world relies on fragile systems—vulnerable to risks like massive solar storms, dependent on rare earth minerals, and deeply interconnected with China’s dominance in global supply chains. As demand for sustainable energy surges, solutions like advanced battery recycling and seabed mining offer hope but also raise ethical and environmental concerns. In this podcast, we explore the delicate balance between innovation, security, and sustainability, and what it takes to build a more resilient future.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    March 29, 2017
    Dans un contexte mondial de plus en plus préoccupé par les aléas climatiques, comprendre l’impact de la croissance économique sur l’environnement devient crucial, notamment pour les pays en voie de développement. Ce papier aborde cette problématique sous le prisme des émissions de dioxyde de carbone (CO2) et examine comment la croissance économique se répercute sur l’environnement. L’objectif de cette étude est de tester la validité de la courbe environnementale de Kuznets (CEK) pou ...
  • Authors
    Laura El Katiri
    December 30, 2016
    Le paysage énergétique du Maroc a connu une évolution rapide au cours des dernières décennies. La croissance démographique, l'industrialisation et la hausse du niveau de vie, qui se sont accompagnés d'une augmentation des taux d'accès à l'électricité, ainsi que de taux élevés d'exode rural, ont tous contribué à l'expansion des besoins énergétiques du Maroc. Étant voisin d'une Algérie riche en pétrole et en gaz à l'Est, et d'une Europe avide d'énergie au nord de la Méditerranée, le M ...
  • Authors
    Priscillia Andrieu
    October 24, 2016
    Africa is the new frontier of a global energy transition during a century in which people are rightfully preoccupied by climate change and sustainable development. Energy access in Africa can be reached through unity within and across the continent. Eliminating the obstacles of the historical divisions of the continent – whether linguistic, economic, or geographic – would foment investments and development aid. The African Union would be best equipped to reallocate and redistribute ...
  • Authors
    Laura El Katiri
    October 18, 2016
    Morocco’s energy landscape has been changing rapidly over the past decades. Alongside its own population growth, rising access rates to electricity as well as high rates of rural-urban migration and rising living standards, Morocco’s domestic energy needs have risen sharply since the early 1990s. This policy paper explores Morocco’s long-term energy options, focusing on “green” energy solutions that lie within Morocco’s natural competitive advantage. Using Morocco’s strategic assets ...
  • Authors
    Carole Mathieu
    October 12, 2016
    In December 2015, a new international climate agreement was adopted, paving the way for increased mitigation and adaptation efforts. Governments firmly expressed the need for rapid action and 2016 will put the credibility of their commitments to the test. Climate policies are actually becoming more widespread, but they are also adjusting to local constraints and needs, suggesting that the establishment of a global emission regulation model is unlikely in the near future. While the l ...
  • March 08, 2016
    This podcast is performed by Michael Leigh. As we enter 2016, Europe's energy situation will face many political and security challenges. Sir Michael Leigh will review in this presentatio ...