Energy Panorama October 2021

Welcome to the October edition of Energy Panorama.

The month began with our second Madrid Energy Conference Virtual Roundtable – Money, Big Oil, and Climate Change: Will corporate, financial, and judicial activism translate to achieving net-zero goals?

With an energy crisis gripping Europe, panellists from Ecopetrol, BCG, The Nature Conservancy and Argus considered the role of technology, energy security and economic recovery, but also a frank discussion of how companies can ensure credibility as demands to go green intensify and net-zero goals and objectives are embraced.

On October 14, we convened our first-ever hybrid event with a keynote address followed by a roundtable “Debating Energy Security & Climate Action.” Jessica Bedoya, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) spoke on net-zero goals and finance, as well as detailing the IDB’s commitment to supporting climate solutions together with public and private partners.

The hybrid panel featuring Jose Luis Manzano (Integra Capital), Decio Oddone (Enauta) and Carlos De Regules (Deloitte) as well as Jessica Bedoya (IDB), further debated the urgent need to reduce emissions yet not compromise energy access, but most of all, how to manage volatility. The two sessions underscored Latin America’s need for financing to move faster and deeper on climate action as the world convenes in Glasgow.

In October, we kicked off the third edition of our Baja California Energy Ambassadors workshop, a key piece of our energy literacy efforts. The Energy Ambassadors program consists of a series of high-level presentations and breakout discussions for non-energy sector professionals in Baja California with the goal of deepening understanding of the relevance of global and local energy and sustainability issues.

Also this month, Cecilia Aguillon wrote about the global energy crisis and what it signifies for decarbonization and climate change in a commentary for the Inter-American Dialogue Energy Newsletter. Our Non-Resident Fellow, Chris Sladen, called the developments in Europe and globally “another fine mess.” In his ANZMEX essay, he unravels how economic recovery has collided with the Energy Transition.

Jeremy Martin spoke at the Tijuana EDC Borderless Business Congress on the future of transport and mobility, but particularly lithium, critical minerals and the potential for a “battery economy” in the Cali-Baja region

Our colleague, Tania Miranda, and the IOA’s Environment and Climate Change Program launched a detailed report and analysis of Latin America and the Caribbean’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including unique country-specific snapshots and infographics. The report launch included an expert panel and discussion of the report and region’s posture heading to Glasgow and COP26.

Stay tuned next month for our analysis and report on clean energy and CFE in Mexico and a report launch event.

Videos

MEC Virtual Roundtable: Money, Big Oil, and Climate Change: Will corporate, financial, and judicial activism translate to achieving net-zero goals?