The clean energy transition will involve an unprecedented investment in zero and low-carbon technologies. This shift to a clean energy system&nbsp; will require what are known as critical minerals such as aluminum and copper used in photovoltaic solar panels, and lithium and cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries. New surges in demand for these critical minerals has challenged the ability of global supply chains to keep pace with this demand. As more and more nations commit to ambitious net-zero targets, demand for these minerals will only go up. In this episode, Host Bill Loveless interviews Frank Fannon, the Managing Director of Fannon Global Advisors, a firm focused on geopolitics, market transformation, and the global energy transition.&nbsp; Mr. Fannon was formerly the First Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources in the U.S. State Department, where he advised the Secretary of State on a host of issues related to energy resources and national security.&nbsp; Bill spoke with Mr. Fannon about the future of the critical minerals supply chain as well as some of the broader geopolitical trends in the clean energy landscape.This episode references a past live episode that Host Jason Bordoff conducted with Ford CEO Jim Farley and Mary Nichols, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy and the former Chair of the California Air Resources Board.

Creating Supply Chains For Critical Minerals

The Pentagon has released its most ambitious blueprint to date for how the Department of Defense—the largest government agency in the United States and the largest employer in the world— intends to prepare for the risks associated with the&nbsp; climate crisis. The , which describes climate change as a “destabilizing force” and a “national security risk,” offers a strategic roadmap for&nbsp; the U.S. military to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis. These include geopolitical turmoil, threats to U.S. military infrastructure and the increased frequency of natural disasters at home and abroad.&nbsp; In this episode, Host Bill Loveless speaks to one of the pentagon leaders behind the report— Richard Kidd.&nbsp; Mr. Kidd is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment &amp; Energy Resilience at the Department of Defense. There, he oversees efforts related to coastal resilience, pollution prevention, and compliance with environmental laws. They discuss how to balance the energy needs of today with a forward-thinking approach to managing the climate risks that have already and will continue to affect U.S. military operations.&nbsp;

Climate as a National Security Threat

The COP26 UN climate conference has kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland amidst a flurry of important moments in climate-related current affairs—an energy crisis threatens global supply chains and the future of a reconciliation package in Congress could determine whether or not the U.S. will meet its climate targets.&nbsp; Needless to say, it’s a big week for the climate.&nbsp; Here to break down his vision for how nations can seize the opportunity at hand to make a meaningful impact on climate change, both domestically and on the world stage, is Manish Bapna. Manish is the new President and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the NRDC Action Fund. He has a long background trying to solve complex environmental problems at institutions like the World Resources Institute and the World Bank. In this episode, Host Bill Loveless sits down with Manish to talk about how nations can go beyond pledges and commitments to make progress on decarbonization.

What Progress Looks Like, In Glasgow And Beyond

The COP26 UN climate negotiations are well underway in Glasgow, Scotland.&nbsp; With that in mind, we wanted to rerun an episode we did a few years back with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe about how to understand and listen to each other when it comes to climate change.&nbsp; Dr. Hayhoe is an expert climate scientist and communicator. She is currently the Chief Scientist for  and is also a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Law in the  at Texas Tech University.&nbsp; Dr. Hayhoe has precious insights into how we effectively shift public opinion on the side of climate science, especially among members of her own evangelical Christian religion.&nbsp; Over the course of the conversation, she and Host Jason Bordoff discuss how she merges her faith and her scientific work to communicate the urgency of addressing climate change in an ever-polarized political landscape.

How We Talk About Climate Change

The Center aims to improve the quality of energy policy and dialogue through objective, balanced, and rigorous analysis. We approach energy as an economic, security, and environmental concern. And we draw on the resources of a world-class institution, renowned faculty with deep expertise, practitioners with wide experience, and a location in the world’s finance, media, and diplomatic capital.

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