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Daniel  Yergin

Daniel Yergin

Global Authority on Energy, Geopolitics and the Business, Economic and Societal Impacts of the Changing Energy World, Vice Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author

Daniel Yergin

Global Authority on Energy, Geopolitics and the Business, Economic and Societal Impacts of the Changing Energy World, Vice Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author

Biography

How will the global shifts in energy, the foundation of the modern world, affect industries, economies and societies going forward, and is it truly possible for nations to reach the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050? Business and government leaders aiming at that target are hearing thoughtful advice from Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of S&P Global, chairman of CERAWeek, and a preeminent global authority on energy, geopolitics and the global economy.

At a time when conversations around climate change and energy use can become heated and divisive, Yergin remains a highly respected voice of reason who advises decision makers across the planet.

A sought-after futurist and strategist, Yergin is the author of several major books including The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. His most recent book, The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations (Penguin Press, New Edition September 2021), is a sobering yet even-handed look at how geopolitics and energy interests are reshaping global power structures. The London Sunday Times called The New Map a “wonderful book” and The Washington Post called it “a tour de force of geopolitical understanding.” Yergin’s insights and forecasts are of particular interest to investors, financial markets and leaders wondering how the changes ahead will impact industries and supply chains.

“My first book was on the origins of the Soviet-American Cold War,” explains Yergin. “I never expected to be writing a book about new cold wars. But as I was writing The New Map, it was becoming clearer that a new cold war is brewing between the U.S. and China. The reality is that the world of open trade and open commerce that became the norm after the last cold war is under great pressure. We have gone from an era of openness and easy travel to one of strategic rivalry and great power competition.”

When discussing the future, however, Yergin remains cautiously optimistic. During his talks, he is quick to shine a light on opportunities as well as risks, and describes a path to a better, safer world where the interests of competitive nations can come together – and the encouraging signposts along the way.

Yergin’s reputation precedes him. CERAWeek has been described by CNBC as “the Super Bowl of world energy,” Fortune called Yergin “one of the planet’s foremost thinkers about energy and its implications” and The New York Times named him “America’s most influential energy pundit” and “one of the great chroniclers of our age.”

TIME Magazine proclaimed, “If there is one man whose opinion matters more than any other on global energy markets, it’s Daniel Yergin,” and Forbes wrote, “Few see the geopolitical future like Daniel Yergin…Yergin is a rare writer who can synthesize economics, energy, history, geopolitics, and technology.”

A master storyteller and eloquent speaker, Yergin is an apolitical straight shooter who tells it like it is. When tackling often heavy issues, he steers clear of doomsday predictions and instead offers realistic and even hopeful perspectives on what to expect and how leaders can plan forward in an era of uncertainty and political turmoil.

As for possible paths toward net zero, Yergin says part of the answer lies in carbon capture and other technological innovations.

“What we really need to focus on right now is research and development into technologies that can speed up the process of getting us there, an investment well worth the long-term dividends.”

Speaker Videos

The Quest

Speech Topics

The New Map: Energy, Climate & the Clash of Nations

At a time of global crisis, the world is being shaken by the collision of energy, climate change and the clashing power of nations. Out of this tumult, Daniel Yergin, global energy expert and master storyteller, draws the new map of energy and geopolitics – shaped by climate, the shale revolution, innovation, the United States’ tense relations with Russia and the growing rivalry with China. Concern about climate change is driving an energy transition in the quest for a world of net zero carbon. Trillions of dollars will be spent in this search, but it is also setting the stage for a new “North-South Divide” between developed and developing nations. At the same time, fracking technology has enabled the “shale revolution” in oil and gas, which almost overnight has made the United States the world’s number one energy powerhouse and transformed the world oil and global LNG markets, and reset global politics. The map of the Middle East, which was laid down after the First World War, is being challenged by jihadists, revolutionary Iran and ethnic and religious clashes. The region is increasingly aware of the uncertainty over oil’s future. All this has been made starker and more urgent by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on world economies. In this presentation, drawing on his latest book, “The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations” (Penguin Press, New Edition September 2021), as well as recent and emerging events, Dr. Daniel Yergin takes audiences on a riveting and timely journey across this new map, illuminating the great issues of geopolitics and energy, sketching our future in this era of rising political turbulence, and pointing to the profound challenges that lie ahead.

The Future of Energy in the New World Economy

What will it mean for world energy and political power if Asia overtakes North America to become the biggest part of the world economy? Could oil lose its monopoly position in fueling our cars? What would that mean for world politics? What happens if globalization falters, leading to a disappointing economic future, and a “global fissure?” In this talk, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Daniel Yergin, the world’s preeminent authority on energy, geopolitics and the global economy, explores how great changes in international politics, the global economy, technology and the environment will reshape the world and drive us into the future. He outlines the conflicting choices and visions for the world economy and addresses what the great battle over globalization is all about. He also identifies key risks and opportunities, and describes the path to a better, safer world where the interests of competitive nations can come together—and the encouraging signposts along the way.

Oil, Power & Money: The Age of Energy Insecurity

The great struggles over oil and energy — particularly how they interact with geopolitics and the future of society — are of growing concern to everyone. Indeed, anxiety about energy is practically a part of daily life, prompting numerous questions about our energy future: What are the risks of conflict over energy resources and “a new energy crisis?” How will high prices impact the global economy and our own lives? Is the world really running out of oil? Will wind, ethanol and other renewable resources fill the gap? How will the energy needs of a growing world match up with rising concerns about carbon and climate change? In this fascinating presentation, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Daniel Yergin, the world’s preeminent authority on energy, geopolitics and the global economy, tackles these critical questions by providing in-depth thought and analysis and up-to-the-minute insights with the characteristic energy of a great storyteller.

Globalization & the New Geopolitics

Today’s era of globalization is proving to be much more challenging than expected a few years ago. Balances of power have been shifting, resulting in new alliances. The U.S., China and Russia are taking on new roles, technological forces are shaping our future, and worries about energy security are now a political fact, amplified by climate change. Supply chain disruptions are hindering the world economy and hurting consumers. In this important presentation, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Daniel Yergin, the world’s preeminent authority on energy, geopolitics and the global economy, takes on the question of overriding importance: How will today’s positive global economic developments interact with the negative and worrying geopolitical trends that are emerging out of the new geopolitics?

The Quest: Energy, Security & the Remaking of the Modern World

Drawing from his acclaimed book, The Quest, which presents a gripping account of the ongoing quest for the energy that our world needs, Dr. Daniel Yergin discusses the turbulent choices that surround the future of energy. He offers context and insight into what it takes to fuel life in the twenty-first century, the struggles among nations, the energies on which our society has been built and the new resources that are competing to replace them. This talk is essential for anyone seeking to understand today’s energy world, the future of energy and the people who will shape it.

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power

The struggle for wealth and power has surrounded oil for over a century and continues to fuel global rivalries, shake the world economy and transform the destiny of nations. In this enlightening talk, Dr. Daniel Yergin elaborates on key points from his groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Prize, which recounts the panoramic history of the world’s most important resource: oil. By sharing a sweeping historical account of the quest for “black gold,” beginning with the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Operation Desert Storm, the Iraq War and climate change, Dr. Yergin highlights the unwavering significance of oil throughout the modern era.

The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy

There are risks and opportunities emerging as the balance of power shifts around the world between governments and markets − with the battle over globalization front and center. In this riveting talk, based on his acclaimed book The Commanding Heights, co-authored with colleague Joseph Stanislaw, Dr. Daniel Yergin explains these important shifts and what they mean for our future. Participants walk away with a vital understanding of the struggle over the “new rules of the game” for the twenty-first century and how they came about.