The Polycrisis

The Polycrisis

Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie on  how geopolitics has been driving a quiet revolution in clean tech, and how the energy transition is in turn reshaping world power. 

Afleveringen

  1. 28 APR

    01 | Demand Destruction | US oil is not winning the Iran war

    In this first bonus episode, we discuss why the Middle East war is accelerating the destruction of demand for fossil fuels, and why the US won’t become the new provider of "geopolitically secure” oil and gas. We also argue about whether the data is sufficient – *yet* – to prove our point that this is already happening.  Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate Mackenzie, and Tim Sahay from the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry.  Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany StewartContact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com Links: America’s bid for energy supremacy is being forged in war - Big Financial Times story setting out the “US is geopolitically secure energy provider” argument. With excellent data viz.  Iran War Pushes Asia to Think Twice Before Doubling Down on LNG - Bloomberg   One of the most persuasive anecdotal demonstrations that assumptions about LNG demand now have to be completely revised. “Bloomberg News spoke to more than two dozen executives, traders and analysts across Asia, who painted a picture of a region that had been thought of as the future of LNG, but is now rapidly losing faith in the super-chilled fuel.” US is making Europe pay dearly for its half-hearted electrification - Cornel Ban, Geoeconomic newsletter. Highlights how Europe’s slow energy transition has left it vulnerable to US energy predation. Echoes some of the arguments in the Permanent Suez report that Tim co-authored in early 2024.  US ambassador to Europe threatens to remove “privileged” access to LNG - FT, March 24, 2026

    19 min.
  2. 03 | Electric World Order | Demand destruction

    7 APR

    03 | Electric World Order | Demand destruction

    How is the Middle East war going to change the energy strategies of many countries?  Global powers have long relied upon the threat of cutting off fossil energy flows – or the revenues from selling them – to discipline and coerce other countries. The US has done this for decades with oil. Five of the seven countries attacked by the US under the second Trump administration are rich in oil. But the emergence of cheap clean energy tech and electrification complicates the picture. What can history tell us about the motivations of the US around geopolitical dominance and energy?  Even among the chaos of the current US administration, a desire to perpetuate a globally traded fossil fuel system persists. Oil-producing nations that depend on selling the stuff overseas face existential threats from the energy transition; but the US administration wants to keep oil use high so that it can exert global power.  Guests:  Helen Thompson - Professor of political economy, Cambridge University; former co-host of the London Review of Books’ “Talking Politics” podcast Alex Turnbull - Managing director, Sagax Capital; energy researcher, commodities and energy trader Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate MacKenzie, and Tim Sahay from the net zero industrial policy lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry.  Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany StewartContact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

    41 min.

Info

Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie on  how geopolitics has been driving a quiet revolution in clean tech, and how the energy transition is in turn reshaping world power. 

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