Agenda

Welcome Remarks

Strategic Panel Session: Driving the Global Energy Transition

Should the energy transition be driven by the free market or by policymakers?

With global energy consumption set to grow by nearly 50% by 2050, who best to drive the expansion of energy consumption, with the rapid drive towards decarbonisation and cleaner forms of energy? Will the economic impacts of climate change ultimately drive free market transformation faster than policies? The impacts of climate change are already estimated to have cost trillions of dollars in lost output so will economic urgency ultimately lead the transition?  

Attendee insights: 

A must-attend session for attendees looking to understand which factors will drive the industry’s decarbonisation agenda; how globalisation and economic growth are affecting energy demand, consequently impacting the urgent economic drive set by climate change policies.  

Session commentary

In Conversation With...

Addressing the energy and climate agenda through collaboration and innovation

As the world adapts to the new energy future and tries to meet ambitious decarbonisation targets, the need for bold new approaches has fast tracked cross-sector partnerships and the development of new technologies that help mitigate and tackle climate change.

In this session Dr Ernest Moniz will share insights on how the energy industry can meet climate targets, the effects of globalisation on climate change policies, the creation of new business models, policy evolution and what role nuclear power generation has in a net-zero world.

Strategic Panel Session: Taking Responsibility, Accepting Accountability

Should emissions reductions ultimately be driven by producers & suppliers or the commercial & domestic consumers of energy?

Everyone will bear some collective responsibility for tackling climate change but how much weight should be placed on energy providers? In a post-COVID world will economic recovery need to be prioritised over the financial burdens of rapid energy transition? What impact will the energy transition have on stranded assets? What would transition mean for national economies dependent on oil and gas revenues, and how can impact be managed? It is forecast that global emissions must be cut on average 7.6% each year to 2030 to meet Paris Agreement targets so how do we manage this? How achievable are the targets and timelines pledged by government and industry?

Attendee insights: 

It is paramount to understand how industries are prioritising and strategising to achieve the Paris Agreement targets whilst ensuring their businesses are profitable and at the same time meet stakeholders’ expectations. Should energy companies bear the burden of meeting most of these targets or should there be a collective response and sector coupling within industries?  In this session we discuss these pertinent issues and share insights on how the industry can thrive economically and sustainably.

Session commentary

Strategic Panel Session: Human Needs vs Climate Action

How can we meet the anticipated demand growth in energy whilst slashing emissions?

The world’s population is expected to grow by 2 billion, from 7.7 billion to 9.7 billion by 2050. How should the energy transition differ between developed - and developing – countries? Currently more than 1 billion people have no access to electricity, and nearly 3 billion have no access to clean cooking fuels (relying on high-polluting energy sources).   

Attendee insights: 

Access to affordable and reliable energy sources are top priorities for world leaders who have the responsibility to ensure countries have access to the resources they need to survive and economically develop alleviating energy poverty. A key session gathering expert insights on how to successfully meet energy demand creating sustainable energy for all, gain profitable returns whilst reducing and mitigating carbon and methane emissions.  

Session commentary

In conversation with

Global implications and future projections to achieve carbon neutrality

In recent weeks we’ve witnessed challenges to major oil and gas companies in their boards, their shareholder meetings, and in court as pressure increases on them to decarbonise more rapidly.  In addition, IEA’s recent report has raised major questions and implications for the future of hydrocarbons – what does the future hold for the industry? What are the expectations for COP26?

In this session, Jason Bordoff will share critical insights on the recent events that happened with some of the major oil and gas companies, its implications for the industry’s future and strategic analysis on President Biden’s climate changes policies in the road ahead to COP26. 

Strategic Panel Session: Cooperation, Politics and Competition

How do we work together to reduce emissions in an increasingly fractured and competitive geopolitical landscape?

The rise of the nation state has been prevalent during the 21st century and governments are cooperating less than ever before in tackling global challenges. COVID-19 has created further disparity and competitiveness, fracturing relationships between global powers and impacting opportunities to tackle climate change together.  Looking ahead to COP26, can governments harness collectively to deliver upon commitments of the Paris Agreement or do fractured relationships first need to be healed?  

Attendee insights: 

An important session for attendees seeking to understand what disparities have been created between nations and what steps are needed to be considered to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. 

Session commentary

Welcome Remarks

Strategic Panel Session: The Future Energy Mix

What role can oil and gas companies play to support a sustainable energy transition?

Leading global agencies predict 50% of energy is still expected to be required from hydrocarbons by 2050. What contributions can today's companies make as the world aims for net-zero emissions as early as possible? How is the industry reducing its emissions? What's the role of a price on carbon? What opportunity does carbon capture, storage and utilisation present to decarbonise across industry and within oil and gas? Will strong carbon abatement policies provide key solutions? 

Attendee insights: 

Hydrocarbons will have a role in the future energy mix; understanding its future role will help determine which projects proceed and at what level of investment. This session will gather insights on what promising technologies, innovative solutions and policies can help the world reach its climate goals and examine the go forward role of one of the oldest and most predominate industries in the world.  

Session commentary

Keynote Address

Getting to net-zero by 2050: a perspective from the U.S. Department of Energy

President Biden has laid out a bold and ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the U.S. by 2050.  Achieving that goal will require the at-scale deployment of carbon capture, carbon removal and other technologies to decarbonise the energy sector and other industrial sectors, as well. The Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management is pursuing research, development, demonstration, and deployment approaches to advance those technologies to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of fossil fuel production and use, particularly the hardest-to-decarbonise applications in the electricity and industrial sectors.

Strategic Panel Session: Technology and Innovation to Deliver Cleaner Energy

Technology that delivers: which innovations can immediately move us towards net-zero?

What technologies are needed to achieve a net-zero world? Can technology growth meet climate change needs? How quickly and at what pace can low carbon technologies be developed and deployed? What role is there for 'green' hydrogen as a leader in the clean energy transition and can it be scaled quickly enough to impact? Big data is helping us to move towards decentralising energy through the implementation of smarter, more efficient, fully integrated networks – could this be the strongest opportunity to deliver on net-zero? What other technologies and solutions exist to help us engineer a better and cleaner planet?  

Attendee insights: 

A must-attend session for attendees looking to understand what technology and innovations can help fast-track the world’s decarbonisation journey achieving carbon neutrality. 

Session commentary

In Conversation With

The role of national oil and gas companies in the energy transition

With different commitments and unique challenges, national oil and gas companies have a key role to play when it comes to the energy transition, as not only they have to fast track their decarbonisation strategies but they also have the responsibility to secure their country’s energy supply and contribute to its economic development.

In this session, Mele Kolo Kyari shares insights about the role of oil and gas in the future energy mix, price on carbon and carbon abatement policies, the Petroleum Industry Bill and Nigeria’s journey towards net-zero.

Strategic Panel Session: The Energy Transition – Investments and Liabilities

Securing investment in a net-zero world: how to manage risk in a volatile market environment?

Achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century would cost an estimated $1 trillion-$2 trillion a year of additional investments - how will this be paid for and will it be to the detriment of other critical needs? How are companies securing investment? How to manage risks for asset management and investment growth? What does sustainable investing mean for the industry? How is the industry working with regulators and policymakers to develop successful low-carbon investment strategies?  

Attendee insights: 

This strategic session will offer attendees a deeper understanding on risks, rewards and investments needed to manage a successful transition; from industry, government and investors’ perspectives.  

Session commentary

Policy experts, market analysts and industry specialists will recap the sessions’ highlights and share meaningful and unique post-session actionable outcomes and takeaways.

Energy & Climate Insights Interview

Redefining the global energy system to enable a sustainable energy transition

Energy and climate change are on top of every leaders’ agenda as pressures to reduce global carbon emissions increase at unprecedented levels. International collaboration is a key driver of the energy transition as despite geopolitical tensions, leaders are coming together to find solutions that can mitigate this challenge and implement the change needed to commit to the Paris Agreement.

In this interview, Carlos Pascual shares strategic insights into the geopolitics of climate change and its implications on the worlds global energy system.

Strategic Panel Session: Renewables and Cost Parity

Achieving cost parity: balancing the future energy mix with renewables and powering the energy transition

It is estimated that 75% of new global solar and onshore wind capacity will produce electricity cheaper than any hydrocarbons. Is there a place for decarbonising oil and gas or should the industry focus its attention and investment on the switch to renewables? Concurrently, it is estimated that renewables power generation will spur renewable growth, but what does a net-zero power sector look like? How to guarantee stability, security and affordability of a decarbonised power sector? How to develop renewables at the pace and scale needed to meet the world's energy needs?  

Attendee insights: 

Achieving a balanced energy mix is fundamental to create a stable economy and meeting the world’s growing energy consumption demands. Renewables are becoming more relevant and widely considered by nations and companies as the energy resource of choice. However, according to many industry experts, hydrocarbons will remain an important part of the global energy mix for many more years to come whilst renewables slowly take their place in the mix. Many challenges are yet to be overcome by renewable producers but when the industry is ready, what will happen to oil and gas? This session will gather expert insights on the evolving landscape of the world’s energy mix, how to decarbonise the power sector and how renewable energy is increasing its role in the world's energy mix.

Session commentary

Financing net-zero and investment insights commentary by