Background

The pressing energy issue is, to many people, the soaring cost of oil. It eclipses climate change in their minds. And it complicates the short-term politics of moving to a low-carbon economy; voters fear paying an extra double bill – for more expensive petrol and for the capital costs of increasing renewable energy. Yet the long-term economic truth is that the higher the oil price, the lower the extra ‘real’ cost of developing alternatives, as the European Commission pointed out in its ambitious January 2008 energy and climate change package.

Europe has taken the lead on climate change, partly because others, notably the US, abdicated any such role. As negotiations get underway for a post-Kyoto global agreement, the EU is determined to continue, as Commission president José Manuel Barroso writes, “to lead by example” with policies developed in detail by fellow Commissioners Andris Piebalgs and Stavros Dimas. Some of these policies’ broader implications are addressed by the heads of the International Energy Agency and the World Trade Organization in this publication, which also drills down into what is happening in energy market reform, energy trading, renewable development and energy efficiency technology across Europe.

CYet, The Energy Issue also takes a global view on global warming that renders ever truer John Donne’s dictum that “no man is an island unto himself ”. Non-European views and actions matter to Europeans, whose climate action could, by itself, be futile, even counterproductive. Luckily, opting out no longer seems an option for the US. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate and the only clear party nominee at time of publication, endorses “a solid cap-and-trade policy”, similar to that used by the EU. But Professor Jiahua Pan warns against trying to make one cap fit all. “It would be unacceptable for the Chinese”, he says, not to be allowed some increase in their per capita emissions that are far below EU or US levels. As Tony Blair writes, “we cannot expect obligations to be the same because the stages of development are different”.

What is EU: The Energy Issue?

Published by the business-to-business arm of the Financial Times Group, this book will address the "burning" issues concerning energy reform. This will provide a platform of the highest level for the opinion formers of this debate. Priorities and challenges in reaching the 20:20:20 targets and tackling climate change as well as security of supply, renewables and the global post-Kyoto strategy ( as proposed in recent document released by Sir Nicholas Stern) are all on the agenda. Europe is setting high standards and visions for leading the way in energy reform. This will also be placed in a global context.

Who are the contributors and the topics?

GLOBAL VIEW

  • Economic Reform (including the Budget and making markets work)
  • José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Opportunity to be seized
  • John McCain, Republican Nominee for US President, A clear signal from US
  • Tony Blair, Time for a shared vision
  • Professor Jiahua Pan, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Low carbon for a high quality of life
  • Ernest-Antoine Seillière, President of BusinessEurope, Cutting carbon, not jobs
  • Q&A: Pascal Lamy, rector-General of the world Trade Organization
  • Christopher Allsopp, Director of Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Carbon cost conundrum

POLICY, LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

  • Introduction by David Buchan Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
  • Andris Piebalgs, European Energy Commissioner, Cracking the energy problem
  • Q&A: Stavros Dimas, European Environment, Commissioner
  • Peggy Hollinger, Paris Bureau Chief, Financial Times, Gearing up to be president
  • Sir John Mogg, Chairman of the ERGEG, Regulators Group Rules on regulations
  • David Buchan, Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Unbundling EU networks

SECURITY OF SUPPLY

  • Introduction by Carola Hoyos , Chief Energy Correspondent, Financial Times
  • Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Europe faces a gas challenge
  • Jozias van Aartsen European Co-ordinator, Caspian-Middle East-EU Gas Route The financial onus is on us
  • Vladimir Milov, President of the Institute of Energy Policy in Moscow, Overpriced but still undervalued

ENERGY MARKETS

  • Introduction, Stuart Penson, European Emissions Editor, Argus Media Group
  • Professor Michael Grubb, Chief Economist, The Carbon Trust, A carbon revolution
  • Jan van Aken, Secretary-General of the European Federation of Energy Traders, Making integration happen

RENEWABLES

  • Introduction, Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent, Financial Times
  • Marianne Haug, Lecturer in Energy Economics, University of Hohenheim, Europe forges ahead
  • Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of the European Wind Energy Association, Wind power breezes in
  • Q&A: Raffaello Garofalo, Secretary-General, The European Biodiesel Board
  • Manuel Pinho, Minister of Economy and Innovation, Portugal, The right renewable combination

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SAVING

  • Introduction, Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times
  • John Reed, Motor Industry Correspondent, Financial Times, Oil price drives clean car progress
  • Q&A: Dr Jon Gibbins, Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London

CASE STUDIES

  • Mark Mulligan, Madrid Correspondent, Financial Times, Spain’s solar system
  • Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent, Financial Times, Boiling down to the essentials
  • Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent, Financial Times, The ebb and flow machine
  • David Buchan, Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Making the great switchover

SPONSORED ARTICLES

  • Royal Dutch Shell, Jeroen van der Veer, Changing the world’s energy systems
  • Endesa

How do I get a copy?

The publication is available free-of-charge to individuals, subject to our independently audited terms of control.

Apply for a free copy

(Complimentary copies are offered subject to approval by the publisher. Please allow two weeks for a reply)

Buy a copy now

If you have any queries, please e-mail eufocus@ft.com or call + 44 207 775 6340