The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations

Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning global energy expert, examines how energy revolutions, climate change, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the world. The shale revolution has transformed the American economy and ended the era of energy shortage, positioning the United States as the world's leading energy producer. Simultaneously, concerns about energy's role in climate change are driving a second energy revolution toward low-carbon alternatives. These shifts have been intensified by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. Globally, a new cold war is emerging between the United States and China, with Russia pivoting eastward toward Beijing. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are converging on energy interests while challenging American leadership. The South China Sea, claimed by China and a critical global trade route, represents a potential flashpoint for direct U.S.-China conflict. The Middle East's post-World War I map faces challenges from jihadist groups, Iran, ethnic and religious tensions, and populations in unrest. The region has also experienced two recent oil price collapses and faces questions about oil's role in the coming century. Yergin traces these interconnected energy and geopolitical developments, highlighting the challenges ahead in an era of rising political turbulence.