Energy in the New Cold War: Fossil Fuels

New Cold War Series:

Fossil Fuels |  Critical Minerals

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine further strengthened existing geopolitical tensions. The east-west dynamics is now often viewed as being a new Cold War.

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, will continue to be important for years to come because they are a reliable and abundant source of energy.

Their importance: They are currently the primary source of energy for the world and are used to generate electricity, power transportation, and fuel industrial processes. Additionally, the infrastructure for extracting, transporting, and using fossil fuels is already in place, making it easier and cheaper to continue using them than to invest in new forms of energy.

Fossil fuels also have geopolitical importance because countries that have large reserves of these resources have significant economic and political power. The ability to control the production and distribution of fossil fuels can give a country leverage in international relations and can be used as a tool for economic and political gain. Additionally, competition for access to fossil fuel resources can lead to conflicts between countries.

With energy being a key tool of influence, how do the different sides compare when it comes to oil, gas and coal for both production and reserves?

Sources

https://ourworldindata.org/fossil-fuels

https://www.eia.gov/international/data/world/natural-gas/dry-natural-gas-production

https://www.worldometers.info/coal/coal-production-by-country/