Striking the Energy and Environmental Balance for 2012

The 12th annual conference of the German-British Forum investigates the world’s need for appropriate economic, industrial and environmental policies to secure stable energy supplies, sustain growth and meet the challenge of climate change. As the complexities of global warming assume greater priority, the international community world faces the task of devising policies to ward off ecological threats yet maintain economic dynamism.

STATUS QUO AND PERSPECTIVES

The conference has a wide remit, contrasting the status quo and future perspectives in Europe and the US with those in emerging markets and Russia. The goal of the gathering follows on from that of the last annual conference, in November 2006, by focusing attention on the shared tasks faced by East and West in the quest for a sound and reliable international political, economic and environmental framework.

POLITICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ISSUES

The conference examines the issues overshadowing the world energy scene from a mix of political, industrial and technological standpoints. It will analyse the following interlinked themes:

• Security of supply in the energy relationships between major energy consumers and exporters – what investments (both political and economic) are needed by western nations to ensure a more reliable supply pattern in the next 10 years?

• The role of Russia –will Russia be a more or less reliable supplier of energy to Europe and will there be a privileged relationship to Germany?

• The appropriate energy mix in primary energy sources – what are the appropriate roles of fossil fuel, nuclear and renewable energy resources? What market and/or public policy mechanisms are needed to ensure maximum effectiveness of chosen energy channels?

• The optimal response to the challenge of climate change – what is the best “division of labour” between the public and private sector? How should the world’s overall response be made more equitable in terms of the burden shouldered by developed as opposed to developing nations?

• The perspectives for regional groupings in the world energy market – should the west be worried by efforts by India and China to secure privileged access to crucial international resources of energy and other raw materials?

• The industrial and technological task of sustaining competitive industries that can hold their own on world markets yet perform in an environmentally friendly fashion – which country sets the best standards?