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An Emerging Energy Alliance: Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean

European, Latin American, and Caribbean experts discussed opportunities and challenges for meeting Europe's energy needs with Western Hemisphere supplies.

Speakers

  • Vickram Bharrat M.P., Minister of Natural Resources, Republic of Guyana
  • Cornelius Fleischhaker, Senior Country Economist, The World Bank
  • Miriam Kosmehl, Senior Expert, Eastern Europe and EU Neighbourhood, The Bertelsmann Stiftung
  • Shahin Vallé, Head, Geo-Economics Program, German Council of Foreign Relations
  • Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

“Climate policy requires not only cooperation within Europe but cooperation globally,” said Miriam Kosmehl, senior expert on Eastern Europe and EU neighborhood at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, in a panel conversation on November 15 covering how to meet Europe’s energy needs with supplies from the Western Hemisphere. The discussion raised important questions on how the Russian war in Ukraine impacts European and global climate goals.

Despite those goals, the reality is that fossil fuels are still in demand. “Small countries like Guyana and Trinidad and other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean deserve the same opportunities to benefit and develop their countries from oil because there is still a demand for oil,” explained Vickram Bharrat M.P., minister of natural resources of Guyana. While there is still demand, smaller countries should be able to help European and other countries with their energy supply, he argued.

Although Latin America and the Caribbean have a role to play in providing energy supplies to Europe and the rest of the world, larger questions remain on reducing demand for hydrocarbons while increasing the use of renewable energy. “Countries need to think very hard about how to use the remaining time of hydrocarbon wealth to get ready for the next phase and not stop being energy producers and exporters but become clean energy producers and exporters,” said Cornelius Fleischhaker, senior country economist at the World Bank.