The Global Energy Transition Podcast

In this episode of the Global Energy Transition podcast, host Michael Buchsbaum, talks with David Schlissel, attorney and Director of Resource Planning Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) about carbon capture and storage (CCS) which got a lot of attention at the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai.

The international response to Russia’s brutal February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has altered and transformed the energy transition, in some ways accelerating the move towards wind and solar generation but also forcing countries dependent on Russian fossil fuels, particularly European nations and the European Union as a whole, to search for and secure alternative supplies. The sudden shocks of this new reality largely acerbated the already growing triple crisis of climate, energy and inflation that we continue to face. For decades renewable energy proponents have advocated for the transformation of aging or abandoned coal mines and coal power plants into green energy centers. Throughout the European Union, converting coal mines and plants into renewable energy sites became a key strategy within the new Repower EU plan adopted as a way to help speed the EU’s move away from imported Russian gas and LNG. In addition, the war has helped spur renewable development across the 27 member states to record levels. In 2022, for the first time, wind and solar reached over a fifth (22%) of EU electricity generation. According to climate think tank, Ember, record installations of new solar capacity, some 41 GW came online, helping to avoid some €10 billion in gas costs. Moreover, all that solar, plus new wind coming online, coupled with a fall in electricity usage prevented a much larger return to coal. In addition, looking ahead, Solar and wind adoption is now moving so fast, that the IEA says renewables will surpass coal’s share worldwide by 2025.  In cooperation with the NGO Europe Beyond Coal, during the summer of 2022, Podcast host Michael Buchsbaum conduced a survey of coal to wind and solar projects throughout Europe. This led him to another fresh report on this subject published by the GreenTank, an Athens, Greece-based environmental NGO that looked through this subject through a Just Transitions lens.  Therefore, for this episode of the Global Energy Transition Podcast, our host talks about this excitingly rapid uptake of new renewables and solar development on old or abandoned coal mining lands with one of the authors of the GreenTank’s report, Nikos Mantzaris.

In response to Russia’s invasion and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, many European nations, particularly Germany, have banned Russian fossil fuels imports. For Germany this has meant not only finding new sources of liquified natural gas (LNG), but also spurred the government to establish several new LNG terminals. However, LNG, which is mainly cooled and compressed methane, represents a major source of climate-harming emissions. Germany, which had no LNG ports prior to Russia’s invasion, has now embarked on a very controversial port and terminal-construction binge, citing the need to maintain energy security. As demand for LNG rises, many of the world’s largest energy firms are raking in record profits – and exporters like the United States have been reaping the benefits.  To help us understand the changing LNG situation and to breakdown LNG’s climate impacts, lead blogger and our host, Michael Buchsbaum interviews the tireless environmental researcher and campaigner, as well as fellow Energy Transition writer, Andy Gheorghiu.

Representing a district near several of Germany’s largest coal mines and lignite-burning power plants, Kathrin Henneberger entered the Bundestag, Germany’s Federal Parliament, on a mandate from Green voters to accelerate the clean energy transition both at home and abroad.  Long involved in the campaign to curtail global coal and fossil fuel production as well as human rights, during the summer of 2022, Henneberger traveled to Colombia, visited with front line coal, oil and gas communities and began forging a new intergovernmental climate alliance.  But with her own country struggling to phase out coal, her constituents living near the edges of Germany’s still expanding open pit mines, and the energy crisis continuing to impact us all, instead of being able to make immediate progress, Henneberger has been fighting something of a rear-guard action to at least maintain the environmental and climate gains already in place a year ago.  In this podcast, Henneberger discusses why she traveled to Colombia, what she experienced while there and shares her insights with lead blogger and podcaster, Michael Buchsbaum.  The episode can also be played on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  For more on Colombia’s energy transition, listeners should check out the preceding podcast with Deutsche Welle correspondent, Judit Alonso as well as lead blogger, Michael Buchsbaum’s seven-part Colombian Conundrum series: https://energytransition.org/2022/10/colombia-part-1-the-global-energy-transition-podcast-season-2-episode-1/  https://energytransition.org/2022/11/colombian-conundrum-resetting-development-relationships-with-germany-and-the-world/ https://energytransition.org/2022/11/colombias-first-ever-left-green-government-shakes-up-nations-energy-sector/ https://energytransition.org/2022/10/colombian-coal-connections-german-mep-kathrin-henneberger-works-to-phase-it-out-on-both-sides-of-the-atlantic/ https://energytransition.org/2022/10/russias-war-does-not-require-returning-to-energy-colonialism-in-colombia/ https://energytransition.org/2022/10/colombian-conundrum-cleaner-energy-or-green-extractivism-poses-another-challenge-for-nations-1st-left-green-government/ https://energytransition.org/2022/10/colombian-conundrum-banning-russian-fossil-fuels-ups-global-demand-for-blood-coal/ https://energytransition.org/2022/10/colombian-conundrum-global-demand-for-its-fossil-fuels-face-pleas-for-reform/

Aftershocks from Russia’s war against Ukraine continue rippling around the world, including to the deserts and jungles of Colombia. Producing increasing volumes of oil and fossil gas, this Andean country is also one of the world’s largest coal exporters.  Long rocked by violence, civil war as well as government and industry-linked terrorism, prior to Russia’s invasion European buyers had been curtailing fossil fuel and “blood coal” imports from Colombia due linkages with human rights violations. But faced with its own energy crisis, following a personal call in April from German chancellor Olaf Scholz to Colombia’s then President Ivan Duque, more coal than ever is sailing from Latin America to European ports.  But then two months later, voters elected the nation’s first ever left-green government into power. Campaigning on a platform to accelerate their clean energy transition, ban fracking, and restrict coal mining, the economist and former Bogotá mayor and former guerilla fighter Gustavo Pedro has now assumed power.  To help us unpack how we got here and what to expect next from both Colombia, Germany and the European Union, in this episode, podcast host and lead blogger, Michael Buchsbaum, interviews Latin American expert and Deutsche Welle reporter and correspondent, Judit Alonso.  Shownotes: Click here for background information on links between Colombia’s civil war and coal and fossil fuel extraction.  Click here to read more about Scholz’ phone call to Duque. Click here to read stories and see images of how mining and development is impacting Colombia’s Wayuu indigenous people.  Click here to read more about the new government’s tax reform plans. Audio from the podcast was mixed and edited by audio expert Christian Kreymborg.

While much of the international community’s climate action has focused on controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, in doing so, we’ve essentially given a pass on another very powerful greenhouse gas: methane. With 86 times the warming impact of CO2 over a twenty-year period, new studies show that methane accounts for about 30-50 percent of today’s global warming. Thankfully, after years of pressure from activists and climate scientists, in 2021 world leaders finally started paying attention to our growing methane problem. While US President Biden created something of a stir leading an international pledge to reduce methane emissions, the EU actually introduced some rules intended to control methane pollution both inside the 27-member bloc as well as outside of it. In this second episode in a series focusing on methane, host Michael Buchsbaum interviews James Turitto, Campaign Manager for Methane Pollution Prevention at the Clear Air Task Force.  We also hear an excerpt from Sharon Wilson, Senior Field Advocate at Earthworks, who has long been documenting carbon leakage in the US. You can play the episode on Audioboom, and it’s also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Audio from the podcast was mixed and edited by audio expert Christian Kreymborg.

While much of the international community’s climate action has focused on controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, in doing so, we’ve essentially given a pass on another very powerful greenhouse gas: methane.  With 86 times the warming impact of CO2 over a twenty-year period, new studies show that methane accounts for about 30-50 percent of today’s global warming. Thankfully, after years of pressure from activists and climate scientists, in 2021 world leaders finally started paying attention to our growing methane problem. While US President Biden created something of a stir leading an international pledge to reduce methane emissions, the EU actually introduced some rules intended to control methane pollution both inside the 27-member bloc as well as outside of it. In this first episode in a series focusing on methane, host Michael Buchsbaum interviews Tim Grabiel, Senior Lawyer with the Environmental Investigation Agency in Brussels about the EU’s newly proposed methane regulations. Then heinterviews Otilia Nutu, an energy researcher at Romanian climate think tank, 2Celsius to talk about how the new rules may or may not apply to the EU’s second largest producer of fossil gas. Finally, we hear an excerpt of an interview with methane hunter, James Turitto with the Clean Air Task Force about what he discovered in Romania as well. You can play the episode on Audioboom, and it’s also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Shownotes: Click on this link to navigate to Environmental Investigation Agency and the EU’s new methane rules Click here for more info on methane in Romania and 2Celsius’ Otilla Nutu. Click here to read more about methane hunter, James Turitto and what he discovered in Romania. Audio from the podcast was mixed and edited by audio expert Christian Kreymborg

Bonn leads the way We all know that climate change is a worsening problem, but which paths do we take to find solutions to this vexing challenge?  In this episode, we evaluate several technological solutions while also updating how cities around the world are taking an aspirational policy approach. In this rather Bonn, Germany-centric episode, host and proud-Bonnerite, Michael Buchsbaum celebrates his city’s endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. The subject of our first podcast, Buchsbaum interviews Seble Samuel, Global Cities Campaign Lead for the treaty.  He then talks about emerging clean energy solutions with Dolf Gielen, Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)’s Innovation and Technology Center, now celebrating 10 years of being located in Bonn.  You can play the episode below, and it’s also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Shownotes: Click on this link to navigate to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative Click on this link to find Bonn’s endorsement Click here for more on the Cities Campaign Resources Click here to learn more about IRENA For more information on IRENA’s 12th Assembly, click here  Audio from the podcast was mixed and edited by audio expert Christian Kreymborg.

After committing to phase out coal by 2032, Romania has begun a sweeping energy transition. But it is off to a very rocky start. Though a key condition of their nearly €30 billion EU Recovery and Resilience Plan approved by the European Commission calls for the nation’s coal mines and coal burning power plants to shutter, what will replace them remains a cause of concern. During COP26 in Glasgow, Romania’s provisional government surprisingly inked a deal with the U.S. to construct a fleet of experimental nuclear units while partnering with a Norwegian company to convert an old coal plant to burn biomass instead – despite Romania already having a large problem with illegal timbering. But more than an economic issue, Romania’s energy transition requires a cultural shift as well as an influx of worker re-training programs. And now as energy costs rise, Bucharest is blaming several NGOs for higher prices. In this episode, lead blogger and podcaster Michael Buchsbaum takes a deeper look in Part Two of his Romanian Power Move series. Listen for interviews with campaigners from Beyond Coal Europe, researchers from NGO 2Celsius, and Bankwatch Romania’s National Director, Ioana Ciută who recounts her experience testifying before Parliament. Miner’s Hymn by Jurjak from the Planeta Petrila Original Soundtrack used by permission. The full video can be found here.  You can also read more from host Michael Buchsbaum about Romania’s energy transition in the ongoing Romanian Power Move series on the Global Energy Transition blog here, visit his website here or follow Buchsbaum on Twitter: @LMicalBuchsbaum. Shownotes: Report “Coal in Romania – A review of coal-based assets and how they affect the environment” by Bankwatch Romania Europe Beyond Coal “Romania commits to exiting coal by 2032 at the latest” Energy Policy Group & Greenpeace România report “The sustainable transition of Gorj County” 2Celsius – Romanian environmental NGO  Audio from the podcast was mixed and edited by audio expert Christian Kreymborg.

Now committed to phasing out coal by 2032, Romania is set to embark on a sweeping energy transition. A key condition of their nearly €30 billion Recovery and Resilience Plan approved by the European Commission, the mines and old power plants will be replaced by new solar and hydrogen as well as fossil gas development. But during COP26,  Romania’s provisional government surprisingly inked a deal with the U.S. to construct a fleet of experimental nuclear units their too.  In this episode, lead blogger and podcaster Michael Buchsbaum takes a deeper look in Part One of his Romanian Power Move series. Listen for interviews from Romania’s Energy Ministry State Secretary Dan Drāgan who explains the government’s “decarbonization” vision and the country’s planned shift to fossil gas and solar.  Offering more insights and color commentary, we also hear from Bankwatch Romania’s Just Transition Campaigner, Dan Dobre, just after he returned from the coal fields, and also Bankwatch’s Romanian Energy and Transition Campaign Coordinator, Laura Nazare from the NGOs national office in Bucharest. Click here for more reports from Bankwatch and to go deeper, readers and listeners can click here, here and here. To read one of the transformation strategies for Gorj County, click here.  You can play the episode on EnergyTransition.org, on Audioboom, and it’s also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   You can also read more from host Michael Buchsbaum about Romania’s energy transition in the ongoing Romanian Power Move series on the Global Energy Transition blog here, visit his website here or follow Buchsbaum on Twitter @LMicalBuchsbaum. Audio mixing and editing for the podcast conducted by the sound guru, Christian Kreymborg.  Shownotes: Report "Coal in Romania - A review of coal-based assets and how they affect the environment" by Bankwatch Romania Europe Beyond Coal "Romania commits to exiting coal by 2032 at the latest" Greenpeace CEE Press Hub "The Oltenia Energy Complex calls for more than € 1 billion to restructure and decarbonize, but significantly increases CO2 emissions over the next 10 years" Energy Policy Group & Greenpeace România report "The sustainable transition of Gorj County" 2Celsius - Romanian environmental NGO Balkan Green Energy News "Romania tells EU it would close all coal mines by 2032" Romania Insider "European Commission greenlights Romania’s EUR 29.2 bln recovery and resilience plan" Audio from the podcast was mixed and edited by audio expert Christian Kreymborg.