Energy & Environment

State of the Order: Assessing June 2023

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Five things to expect from Spain’s EU presidency

By Lisa Homel, Marie Jourdain

Spain has an ambitious agenda for its EU presidency at a critical moment. But upcoming elections could upend it.

The flawed premises behind Janet Yellen’s China visit

By Hung Tran

Yellen's visit will not cool US-China tensions, as her statements were premised on two false assumptions about the two countries' relations.

How cities can drive the energy transition in the Western Hemisphere

By Maia Sparkman, Willow Fortunoff

Expanding access to critical minerals and increasing manufacturing capacity is at the top of the Biden administration’s decarbonization agenda. Mayors, who have shown their ability to deliver on domestic investment projects, have begun exploring opportunities for international collaboration.

Moldova must seize opportunity to end energy dependence on Russia

By Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti

With the Russian army struggling in Ukraine and Putin weakened on the domestic front, Moldova may never have a better opportunity to end its energy sector dependence on Russia, writes Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti.

The mechanisms of corruption in Iran

By Masoud Mostajabi and Britt Gronemeyer

On June 13, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Strategy Project hosted a virtual event, “The Mechanisms of Corruption in Iran” to discuss the nature of corruption and sanctions in Iran as well as the social, economic, and political implications of these issues. The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative Director, Jonathan Panikoff conducted opening remarks, […]

South Asia’s climate challenges are transnational. Its climate solutions must be, too.

By Ahsan Butt

The fundamental reality is that, for South Asia, cooperation on climate change is not a nice-to-have, but a need-to-have.

How four cities are building resilience to extreme heat

By Kashvi Ajitsaria

Cities around the world are facing intense heat waves. But these four are taking proactive steps to prepare for and deal with extreme heat.

Iran and Afghanistan are feuding over the Helmand River. The water wars have no end in sight.

By Holly Dagres

Fatemeh Aman, a non-resident senior fellow at MEI, on why the Islamic Republic and Taliban are bumping heads on transboundary water issues.

Russian War Report: Russian conspiracy alleges false flag at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Allegations of a supposedly US and Ukraine-planned false flag operation on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant spread across social media ahead of the NATO Summit.