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The Jolt: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

In this year’s final edition of The Jolt, Sam discusses energy security with the EU’s former head of energy policy, plus Canada gets ready to embrace electro-mobility

Join us weekdays for bite-sized updates, expert analysis and a global view of the energy transition. Welcome to today’s episode of The Jolt, arming you with the news and insight you need to navigate the rapidly changing shift towards a decarbonised economy.

What you need to know

Here are the main climate and energy stories making the news around the world:

  • Canada’s government is preparing to publish a new all-electric vehicle sales mandate. According to CBC, the law will be phased in from 2026. It includes measures toreward car makers that manufacture zero-emission cars and that help build out charging infrastructure.
  • The European Union signed a new economic partnership with Kenya, which includes trade measures linked to sustainability criteria. It is the first agreement of its kind with a developing country to include these new benchmarks.
  • Switzerland and the EU agreed on a negotiating framework for new agreements that will govern bilateral relations between Bern and Brussels. Electricity trades will be one of the key areas of discussion in the upcoming talks.
  • Energy ministers from the EU’s 27 member countries will meet tomorrow for their end-of-year summit. Top of the agenda is brokering an agreement on extending emergency measures, including joint gas purchases, accelerated permitting procedures for renewables and a gas price cap.
  • Environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift launched a legal challenge today against a United Kingdom government decision to approve a new oil field in the North Sea. The groups argue it is not in-keeping with the UK’s 2050 net-zero target.
  • China is planning to conduct sea trials of its new ultra-deep drilling ship. The new vessel can plumb depths of more than 10,000 metres. It comes against a backdrop of rising tensions in the South China Sea. More on China’s energy policy in last Friday’s edition of The Jolt.
  • COP28 was the biggest edition of the United Nations climate summit to date, according to the Financial Times. More than 65,000 people attended the meeting, not including technical and support staff. The total figure is likely to have been more than 80,000.

Today’s main story

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

Image Midjourney / FORESIGHT

  • Security of energy supply became a top priority for governments in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The fallout is still very much a challenge for countries, especially in Europe.
  • The European Energy Security Initiative has just launched and aims to bring together political and industrial leaders to better prepare for potential future crises.
  • The initiative counts several notable names from the world of politics, the military and industry, including the EU’s former energy commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.
  • He explained why the initiative is important, the challenges facing policymakers looking to bolster Europe’s energy security, and discussed his former role in the Commission and how it could change.

“Security of supply is a key element of European energy strategy and it should be guaranteed all the time.” - Andris Piebalgs

More climate and energy news is available on the FORESIGHT website, we’ll be back in January with new episodes of The Jolt, Watt Matters, the Policy Dispatch and Energy Enablers.

We want The Jolt to be as listener-driven as possible. Get in touch with us about what you like, what you don’t like and what you’d like to see in future episodes. All feedback is appreciated:Email us at thejolt@foresightmedia.comFORESIGHT LinkedIn / TwitterSam Morgan LinkedIn / TwitterKira Taylor LinkedIn / Twitter