The geopolitics of energy, which has been largely ignored in recent years, is back in the spotlight with the energy crisis of 2022, described by the International Energy Agency as the worst in modern history.In Europe, 2022 was also a memorable year, with rising energy prices and strong government interventions to mitigate the effects on household budgets.One of the first publications on the geopolitics of energy in this post-2022 era comes from France. The book by Emmanuel Hache, researcher at the Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques (IRIS, Paris), one of the main French researchers on this issue, provides a great overview of our new energy landscape.The book is divided into four sections: the current energy outlook; energy superpowers; economic and institutional regulations in the sector; and prospects and perspectives. The four sections contain 40 fact sheets, each two pages long.In addition to these fact sheets, the author adds three complementary elements: a paragraph entitled “Focus” on a specific issue; a paragraph called “To Remember”; and a graphic illustration (map, graph or table). This information is useful for a quick overview of the topic.The author notes that the geopolitics of energy will become “geological geopolitics” as the transition will depend on increased needs for critical minerals (for batteries, wind and solar farms). Herein lies the risk that our future way of life will slide from a dependency on fossil fuels to dependency on another type of fuel.
Authors
- Pages
- 6
- Published in
- Canada
