Columbia Global Energy Summit 2026: Energy, Security, and Geopolitics in a Fragmenting World

Columbia Global Energy Summit 2026
(21 April 2026)
Watch the full summit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKP9V9oJ9kc
The Columbia Global Energy Summit 2026, hosted by the Center on Global Energy Policy
(CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), took place on
April 21, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Alfred Lerner Hall in New York City. The full-day,
in-person event (with livestream available via the provided YouTube link) centered on the theme
“Energy, Security, and Geopolitics in the New World Order.”
It convened industry leaders, scholars, minister- and cabinet-level officials, researchers, and
decision-makers for discussions on the erosion of the rules-based international order,
geopolitical fragmentation, great power competition, and their profound impacts on global
energy markets, security, and the clean energy transition. Key cross-cutting topics included the
ongoing conflict in Iran and Middle East instability (with disruptions to shipping through the Strait
of Hormuz and energy infrastructure), critical mineral supply chain competition (especially
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China’s dominance), demand flexibility amid surging AI-driven electricity needs, energy
affordability and permitting reform, and energy access/development in the Global South.
The day featured welcome/opening remarks, panels, featured/keynote conversations, a fireside
chat, and a closing networking reception hosted by CGEP’s Women in Energy Program.Below
is an extensive summary organized by session (in approximate chronological order based on
the agenda), including themes, moderators/speakers with affiliations, and key points/messages
attributed to specific speakers where highlighted in event materials and coverage.
Jason Bordoff (Founding Director of CGEP, Professor at Columbia SIPA, and Co-Founding
Dean Emeritus of the Columbia Climate School) played a central role throughout as moderator,
speaker, and opening remarks deliverer, framing energy as increasingly weaponized in a
fragmenting world.
Opening (8:30–8:40 a.m.)
● Welcome Remarks: Andrew Gumbiner (Chief External Affairs and Public Policy Officer,
CGEP).
● Opening Remarks: Jason Bordoff emphasized the return of energy to the center of
geopolitics amid collapsing international norms, supply disruptions, and the need for
resilient systems balancing security, affordability, and transition goals.
Panel 1: The Return of the Energy Weapon: Power,
Conflict, and Geopolitics (~8:40 a.m.)
Theme: Erosion of the rules-based order has made energy a tool of statecraft and coercion
amid great power rivalry (U.S.-China-Russia), shifting alliances, and conflicts like the Iran/Middle
East situation. Discussions covered supply disruptions, interdependence vs. security tensions,
and implications for global markets.
● Moderator: Daniel Yergin (Vice Chairman, S&P Global).
● Speakers:
● Jason Bordoff (CGEP/Columbia).
● Mike Froman (President, Council on Foreign Relations; former U.S. Trade
Representative) — highlighted how trade tensions and sanctions reshape energy
flows and economic statecraft.
● Karim Sadjadpour (Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace) — focused on Middle East instability and Iran-related
risks.
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● Karen E. Young (Senior Research Scholar, CGEP) — addressed Gulf
economies, energy statecraft, and regional political economy dynamics.
Key messages included energy’s renewed role as a geopolitical weapon, with volatility from
conflicts raising prices and risks for consumers and poorer nations.
Featured Conversation: Navigating a Fragmenting
World (~9:20 a.m.)
Theme: Geopolitical fragmentation, strained alliances, economic competition over integration,
and rising volatility in trade, supply chains, and energy markets.
● Moderator/Speaker: Jason Bordoff.
● Speaker: Ian Bremmer (President, Eurasia Group and GZERO Media) — examined
great power competition’s real-world effects on markets, policy, businesses, and the
energy system, stressing uncertainty as a core driver.
This session was a fireside chat moderated by Jason Bordoff (Founding Director of the Center
on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA, Professor, and Co-Founding Dean Emeritus of the
Columbia Climate School). The speaker was Ian Bremmer (President and Founder of Eurasia
Group, the leading geopolitical risk advisory firm, and GZERO Media; political scientist, author,
and Columbia SIPA affiliate).The conversation examined how the post-Cold War liberal
international order is eroding into a more fragmented, uncertain, and volatile world.
Long-standing alliances face strain, economic integration increasingly yields to strategic
competition and security concerns, and geopolitical risk has re-emerged as a primary driver of
markets, policy, and energy dynamics. These shifts are not abstract—they directly reshape
trade flows, disrupt supply chains, heighten energy market volatility (including fuel prices), and
affect the cost of goods and broader economic stability.
Core Themes and Key Messages
1. The Shift to Geopolitical Fragmentation and Its Concrete Impacts
Bremmer described a world where great power competition (primarily U.S.-China, with Russia
as a disruptive player) and regional instabilities dominate. He argued that geopolitical
fragmentation is now a central fact of life for businesses and policymakers, moving beyond
theoretical risks to tangible disruptions in global supply chains and energy systems. Bordoff and
Bremmer framed energy as increasingly “weaponized” or at least highly sensitive to these shifts,
with volatility in oil and gas markets serving as a real-time barometer of instability.
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2. The Iran Crisis, Middle East Dynamics, and Recent Ceasefire
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the ongoing (or recently de-escalated) conflict
involving Iran and its regional implications. They examined the Iran crisis, associated shipping
and infrastructure risks (including potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz), and the shifting
dynamics in the Gulf region. Bremmer analyzed the Islamabad talks (diplomatic efforts, likely
involving regional mediators, aimed at narrowing gaps over nuclear issues, security guarantees,
and Hormuz access during a fragile ceasefire period). He highlighted the precarious nature of
the current reprieve, noting how markets reacted quickly to any signals of de-escalation (e.g.,
Brent crude easing but remaining elevated compared to pre-crisis levels). The pair discussed
whether the ceasefire would hold, the role of U.S. policy, and broader Gulf realignments, with
implications for energy security and global oil flows. Bremmer emphasized that even temporary
disruptions had already driven meaningful price spikes and heightened uncertainty for energy
markets.
3. The “Myth” of Sovereign AI and Technology Competition
Bremmer addressed the rise of sovereign AI initiatives (nations seeking self-sufficient AI
infrastructure, models, and data governance for strategic autonomy). He characterized much of
the push for fully sovereign AI as a “myth” — arguing that true independence is extremely
difficult and costly in practice due to the concentrated nature of frontier AI development, data
advantages, and compute resources (heavily dominated by a few U.S. and Chinese players).
This ties into broader China’s strategy, which Bremmer portrayed as pursuing technological
self-reliance while leveraging asymmetric dependencies and state-driven investment to close
gaps in critical domains. He discussed how AI and tech competition exacerbate fragmentation,
with implications for energy demand (e.g., massive electricity needs for data centers and
training) and for global supply chains in semiconductors and related minerals. The conversation
touched on how these dynamics affect the energy transition and reliability needs amid surging
demand.
4. Deep Structural Concerns of Global CEOs and Business Navigation of Volatility
Bremmer shared insights from his work advising business leaders, noting that many global
CEOs are grappling with profound structural uncertainty rather than cyclical risks. Key concerns
include:
● Reshaping of trade flows and friend-shoring/near-shoring trends.
● Heightened risks to critical supply chains (energy, minerals, technology).
● The need to scenario-plan for persistent geopolitical shocks rather than assuming a
return to stable globalization.
● Balancing short-term market reactions (e.g., to Middle East events) with long-term
strategic repositioning.
He stressed that businesses can no longer treat geopolitics as a peripheral issue; it now sits at
the core of investment, operations, and risk management decisions, particularly in
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energy-intensive sectors.5. Implications for Policymakers, Businesses, and the Global Energy
System
Throughout the chat, Bremmer and Bordoff connected these geopolitical trends directly to
energy:
● Energy security is more fragile in a fragmented order, with conflicts and competition
amplifying price volatility and supply risks.
● Policymakers must prioritize resilience (diversification, alliances, strategic stockpiles)
while navigating alliance strains.
● For the global energy system, the discussion underscored the need for adaptable
infrastructure, demand flexibility, and innovation to handle both traditional fossil fuel
disruptions and new demands from AI/tech.
● Broader message: While fragmentation brings risks, it may also create opportunities for
certain players (e.g., U.S. LNG exporters benefiting from redirected flows) and force
pragmatic, cross-cutting solutions in energy policy.
The tone was analytical and clear-eyed rather than alarmist—Bremmer, known for his
accessible style (including through GZERO Media), provided frameworks for understanding the
“new world order” without predicting specific outcomes. Bordoff steered the discussion toward
actionable insights for the energy community, linking abstract geopolitics to concrete market and
policy challenges at the summit.This session set the stage for later panels on topics like critical
minerals, energy markets in disruption, AI and the energy system, and development in the
Global South, all viewed through the lens of fragmentation.For the absolute most granular
details, quotes, or full exchanges, the conversation was recorded as part of the summit and
released shortly afterward as an episode of the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast (“Ian
Bremmer on Navigating a Fragmenting World,” dated April 21, 2026).
Panel 2: The New Resource Race: Critical Minerals
and Geopolitics (~9:50 a.m.)
Theme: Surging demand for minerals (for batteries, EVs, clean tech) amid concentrated supply
chains (China dominance), geopolitical risks, and the need for diversification, financing, and
resilience—exacerbated by recent energy shocks like the Iran conflict.
● Moderator: Tim McDonnell (Climate and Energy Editor, Semafor).
● Speakers:
● Heidi Crebo-Rediker (Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations) — discussed
strategic balancing of rapid supply expansion with risk reduction.
● Helaina Matza (Non-Resident Fellow, CGEP; Chief Strategic Development
Officer, TechMet) — addressed financing and diversification of supply chains.
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● Audrey Robertson (Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of Critical Minerals and
Energy Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy) — covered U.S. policy efforts to
secure and innovate in critical minerals.
● Zainab Usman (Senior Research Scholar and Managing Director of International
Programs, Energy Opportunity Lab) — emphasized international dimensions and
development implications.
Key points stressed moving critical minerals from a commercial to a strategic priority, building
resilient foundations for the clean energy transition.
Panel 3: Energy Markets in an Age of Disruption
(~10:45 a.m.)
Theme: Impacts of Iran/Middle East conflicts on global energy flows, oil price volatility (sharp
rises noted), shipping risks (e.g., Strait of Hormuz), trade tensions, and policy shifts reshaping
price formation and market functioning.
● Speakers included:
● Maria Jelescu Dreyfus (CEO and Founder, Ardinall Investment Management;
Co-Chair, Women in Energy Steering Committee).
● Robert McNally (Non-Resident Fellow, CGEP; Founder and President, Rapidan
Energy Group) — analyzed market responses to disruptions.
● Carlos Pascual (Senior Vice President, S&P Global).
● Toby Rice (President and CEO, EQT) — offered industry perspectives on
volatility and operations.
Messages highlighted how geopolitical instability drives costs for consumers and amplifies risks
in a fragmented environment.
Panel 4: Energy Security and Industrial Strategy in a
Fragmenting World (~11:25 a.m.)
Theme: Balancing energy security with industrial strategies amid fragmentation, including policy
responses to supply risks and competition.
● Speakers included:
● Sarah Ladislaw (Non-Resident Fellow, CGEP; Founding Director, New Energy
Industrial Strategy Center).
● Emmanuel Lagarrigue (Partner, Global Co-Head of Climate Transition Fund and
Head of Sustainability, KKR).
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● Chris O'Shea (CEO, Centrica).
● Kadri Simson (Non-Resident Fellow, CGEP; Former European Commissioner for
Energy).
Discussions explored tensions between interdependence and security in industrial and energy
policy.
Panel 5: AI and the Energy System: Friend or Foe?
(~1:15 p.m.)
Theme: Rapid AI infrastructure growth (especially data centers) driving the fastest U.S.
electricity demand surge in decades; questions around aligning this with reliability, affordability,
and climate goals; demand flexibility; and AI as a tool for grid modernization vs. a strain on
systems.
● Speakers:
● Page Crahan (General Manager, Tapestry – A Google X Moonshot) — described
AI-powered tools to close the “visibility gap” in electricity systems and enable
faster infrastructure modernization.
● Nick Edwards (Power Projects Lead, OpenAI) — addressed AI’s power demands
and potential alignments.
● Amir Orad (CEO, Kraken) — industry view on tech solutions.
● Ann Mettler (CGEP Distinguished Visiting Fellow; formerly VP for Europe at
Breakthrough Energy and Director-General at European Commission).
● Vijay Vaitheeswaran (Global Energy and Climate Innovation Editor, The
Economist) — moderated or contributed on innovation angles.
Key debate: Whether AI exacerbates energy challenges or enables solutions through better grid
analytics and planning. Emphasis on reliability, affordability, and decarbonization compatibility.
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Featured Conversation: Betting on Breakthroughs –
Innovation and the Next Energy Frontier (~1:50 p.m.)
Theme: Technological frontiers in energy, including fusion and other breakthroughs, and their
role in the transition.
● Speakers:
● Bob Mumgaard (CEO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems) — discussed fusion
innovation potential.
● David Sandalow (Inaugural Fellow, CGEP).
● Eric Toone (Chief Technical Officer and Managing Partner, Breakthrough Energy
Ventures).
Messages focused on high-risk, high-reward investments needed for next-generation energy
technologies.
Featured Conversation: The Future of Climate Action
– Lessons from the Rise and Retreat (~2:35 p.m.)
Theme: Durability of climate policies amid political and economic shifts; lessons from advances
and setbacks.
● Speakers:
● Alexis Abramson (Dean, Columbia Climate School).
● Abigail Dillen (President, Earthjustice).
● Dave Turk (Environment Program Director, Hewlett Foundation).
Discussions highlighted resilience strategies for sustained climate progress.
Panel 6: Powering Development – Energy, Growth, and
Opportunity in the Global South (~3:05 p.m.)
Theme: Energy access, development, and industrial growth in developing regions; balancing
abundance with climate goals; implications for billions needing more energy for prosperity.
● Speakers:
● H.E. Rania Al-Mashat (Former Minister of Planning, Economic Development &
International Cooperation, Egypt) — policy perspectives from emerging
economies.
● Ashvin Dayal (Senior Vice President, Power, The Rockefeller Foundation).
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● Jonathan Elkind (Senior Research Scholar, CGEP).
● Kyung-Ah Park (Chief Sustainability Officer, Temasek).
Key messages tied into broader calls for “universal energy abundance” (linked to a new
CGEP-Rockefeller Foundation High-Level Panel initiative announced around the summit),
stressing that meaningful development requires scaling energy significantly beyond basic
access.
Panel 7: Across the Aisle – Permitting, Power, and the
Future of Electricity Policy (~3:40 p.m.)
Theme: Bipartisan approaches to permitting reform, electricity infrastructure, affordability, and
policy to support growing demand (including AI) while advancing reliability and transition goals.
● Speakers:
● Neil Chatterjee (CGEP Distinguished Visiting Fellow; Former Commissioner and
Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission).
● Allison Clements (Principal, ASG/804 Advisory; former FERC commissioner).
● Ben Geman (Energy Reporter, Axios Generate).
Focus on practical reforms to accelerate power deployment.
Fireside Chat: With H.E. Majid Al Suwaidi, CEO, ALTÉRRA (~4:00 p.m.)
Theme: Climate finance, investments, and scaling solutions in a challenging
geopolitical/financial landscape.
● Speaker: H.E. Majid Al Suwaidi (CEO, ALTÉRRA) — discussed mobilizing capital for
energy and climate projects.
Closing and Reception (5:00 p.m.)
Networking reception emphasized collaboration, with particular focus on women in
energy.Overall Key Messages from the Summit:
● Energy has returned as a central tool of geopolitics and statecraft in a fragmenting world,
with conflicts (e.g., Iran/Middle East) causing major market volatility and security risks.
● Geopolitical shifts demand greater resilience in supply chains, especially for critical
minerals and oil/gas.
● AI represents both a massive new demand challenge and a potential enabler for grid
intelligence and efficiency.
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● Balancing energy security, affordability, industrial growth (including in the Global South),
and climate goals requires innovation, permitting reform, diversified financing, and
pragmatic policy—often crossing traditional divides.
● Speakers repeatedly stressed action-oriented solutions amid uncertainty, with calls for
international cooperation where possible and strategic diversification to mitigate risks.
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Columbia Global Energy Summit 2026: Energy, Security, and Geopolitics in a Fragmenting World

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