Episode 57: Powering the future
Oil fueled the 20th century—its cars, its wars, its economy and its geopolitics. As the US returns to the Paris Climate accord and after President Biden pledged to halve carbon emissions by the end of 2030, the world is speeding up the shift to a new, greener order. But what does that really mean? Will we finally say goodbye to fossil fuels? This week, The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole talks to people in "power" to see what the future of energy may look like.
First on the podcast Stephen talks to Joseph McMonigle, Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum. He tells Stephen that limited fossil fuel use could continue even with net-zero emissions [00:40].
As the world looks to alternative sources of energy, oil and gas companies are facing more pressure to transition and survive. Stephen asks Ulrika Wising, Global Vice President of Customer Solutions and Renewable Energy Solutions at Shell about what they are doing to help customers to de-carbonize [07:02].
Nuclear is considered a clean energy - in relation to carbon - but many people are hesitant about nuclear power or rather nuclear power plants. Dr. Jonathan Cobb from the World Nuclear Association explains that it is an energy source that&aposs providing an enormous benefit at the moment, supplying 10 percent of electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. [11:23].
Finally we talk to Francesco La Camera, the director general of IRENA. He explains that last year saw the biggest ever increase in renewable energy capacity[16:23].
