The human race, and the race to zero
Reducing carbon emissions is an important and necessary aim—but it should not allow us to ignore the energy needs of the billions of underprivileged people around the world
The start of the year is a time for reflection and to look ahead. This year, already a uniquely challenging one, is no exception. The brutal shock of Covid-19 and the global health emergency has left deep scars in societies and has had very uneven impacts on communities, industries and economies across the world. Our industry, energy, is no exception. The resilience of electricity systems has been tested and the impact on other sectors and forms of energy—heat and liquid fuels—have exposed new vulnerabilities. In many countries, the gap between those that have access to clean, affordable, reliable energy and those that do not has widened. Access to modern energy is easily taken for granted

Also in this section
28 March 2025
The massive expansion of the Northern Lights project in Norway is the clearest sign yet that the European oil and gas companies mean business when it comes to CCS
27 March 2025
Awards celebrate global innovation, leadership and achievement across the energy sector’s people, projects, technologies and companies.
20 March 2025
While advanced economies debate peak fossil fuel demand, billions of people still lack access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in the Global South
14 March 2025
Ignoring questions of sustainability will not make the problems they focus on go away