04 April 2008

Conference report for third Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogue now available

The Global Public Policy Institute's third Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogues conference, entitled "The Changing Rules of the Game: Global Energy Governance and the Transatlantic Agenda", took place from 31 January – 1 February 2008 at the Schloßhotel Cecilienhof in Potsdam. The goal of this conference was to bring together decision-makers from the economic, political and academic worlds; NGOs; and the media to cut across the traditional dividing lines of security, development and the environment within the context of energy security. The conference was made possible by a grant from the Dräger Foundation, as well as additional support from the European Commission and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Starting with an opening speech outlining the issues of global energy governance in the 21st century, panel discussions proceeded to examine the main trends in the energy market (i.e. the rise of new consumers such as China and India, the increasing role of state players on oil and gas markets, and the elevation of climate protection and resource governance to "high energy politics") and the resulting challenges for energy governance institutions that: 1) regulate investment by setting rules on financial markets, and 2) govern investment treaties and via bilateral, regional and global trade agreements; and finally, 3) address short-term supply risks on the consumers’ side and manage supply on the producers’ side. Small working groups were also formed in order to discuss some of the specific challenges and questions facing global energy governance institutions. The keynote speech, given by Prof. Peter Eigen, Chairman of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, focused on good governance and transparency in the extractives sector. A final panel session and concluding discussion addressed transatlantic policy options for effective global energy governance.

The unique mix of speakers and participants made for lively discussion and debate both during the conference and during informal gatherings. Speakers and participants included, among others, Viktor Elbling, Commissioner for International Energy Policy, Globalization and Sustainable Development, German Federal Foreign Office; Julia Nanay, Senior Director, PFC Energy; Joachim Pfeiffer, Member of the German Parliament, CDU-CSU; Ralf Dickel, Director for Trade, Transit and Relations with Non-signatories States, Energy Charter Secretariat; Randy Gossen, President, World Petroleum Council; Alan Hegburg, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Energy Policy, US Department of Energy; and Graeme W. Preston, Principal Administrator, Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, European Commission.

The fourth "Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogues" conference, entitled “Governing the Emerging Global Market for Gas: Trends, Challenges and Policy Implications for the Transatlantic Alliance” will take place from 4 – 5 September 2008 in Berlin.

To download the conference report, please click here.

For information on GPPi’s Global Energy Governance research program and Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogues conference series, please visit www.globalenergygovernance.net.

For more information, please contact Wade Hoxtell.

 

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