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Highlights from the Cross-Brookings Initiative on Energy and Climate

The sun rises behind windmills at a wind farm in Palm Springs, California, February 9, 2011.

Led by Co-Chairs Bruce Jones, Vice President of Foreign Policy, and David Victor, Professor at UC San Diego, the Cross-Brookings Initiative on Energy and Climate mobilizes a core group of scholars with expertise in energy geopolitics and markets, climate economics, sustainable development, urban sustainability, and climate governance and regulation. With overseas centers in China, India, and Qatar, Brookings has experts in parts of the globe that encompass two-thirds of humanity, and three-quarters of the world’s energy production and global emissions.

Brookings has compiled a set of recent scholarship from across several research areas in “Highlights from the Cross-Brookings Initiative on Energy and Climate,” which explores the latest updates on key pressing issues in energy and climate. Topics include the future of climate diplomacy, enhancing innovation in clean technologies, carbon pricing, and the latest updates in global energy markets, among others.


For more from the Initiative, visit our homepage and see the full list of affiliated scholars.

Authors

Chapter 1

Undiplomatic action– A practical guide to the new politics and geopolitics of climate change

A view of solar panels, set up on what will be the biggest integrated solar panel roof of the world, in a farm in Weinbourg, Eastern France February 12, 2009.

Authors: David G. Victor, Bruce Jones

David Victor and Bruce Jones discuss the future of climate diplomacy and opportunities for leverage through leadership clubs and technological innovation in this first in a series of the Cross-Brookings Initiative on Energy and Climate.

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Chapter 2

The danger in deregulation

A pump jack operates at a well site leased by Devon Energy Production Company near Guthrie, Oklahoma September 15, 2015. REUTERS/Nick Oxford - TM3EB9F0WM801

Authors: Samantha Gross

President Trump has been clear about two goals of his administration: a push for what he calls “energy dominance” and a clear distaste for regulation of all kinds, particularly of the energy industry. But these two goals can be contradictory, writes Samantha Gross.

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Chapter 3

China's coal consumption has peaked

coal pier

Authors: Ye QI, Jiaqi Lu

Qi Ye and Jiaqi Lu write about the peaking of China’s coal consumption, noting, despite annual and seasonal fluctuations, the real game changer might be clean energy.

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Chapter 4

Nobody knew border carbon adjustments could be so complicated

Rigging equipment is pictured in a field outside of Sweetwater, Texas.

Authors: Warwick J. McKibbin, Adele Morris, Peter J. Wilcoxen, Weifeng Liu

Warwick McKibbin, Adele Morris, Peter Wilcoxen, and Weifeng Liu look at the effects of a border carbon adjustment on the U.S. economy, through four policy scenarios.

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Chapter 5

Is the United States the new Saudi Arabia?

An oil pump at sunrise, owned by Parsley Energy Inc. near Midland, Texas, U.S., May 3, 2017. Picture taken May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder - RC1509840B40

Authors: Samantha Gross

Is the United States taking on Saudi Arabia’s role in the oil market? It’s an interesting question, and certainly one that the current administration raises with its emphasis on “energy dominance.” But the answer is no—the U.S. industry will never play a similar role to Saudi Arabia’s.

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Chapter 6

Patenting invention - Clean energy innovation trends and priorities for the Trump administration and Congress

Authors: Devashree Saha, Mark Muro

Devashree Saha and Mark Muro discuss opportunities and barriers to US clean technology innovation, including trends across the sector.

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