More than a month into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to the surprise of many, the war’s outcome remains uncertain. Certainly the human costs have already been enormous. So, too, have other disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion, including those linked to efforts to address climate change. Some are not so surprising, others are.
On the situation in Europe, where Russian fossil fuels have been especially critical, these four stories are excellent:
- “Will Russia’s war spur Europe to move on green energy.” Paul Hockenos, Yale Environment 360. Overview.
- “Europe wants to cut Russian energy. Climate policies can help.” Sarah Kaplan, Naema Ahmed, Anna Phillips, Andrew Van Dam, and John Muyskens, Washington Post. Concrete numbers (and clear visuals) for various options for cutting down on using Russian/fossil fuels.
- “Germany’s new government had big plans on climate, then Russia invaded Ukraine. What happens now?” Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News. Illuminating look at the geopolitics of energy in this important country.
- “Will the Ukraine war change Europe’s thinking on nuclear?” Dave Keating, Energy Monitor. Why the answer (so far) is yes in Belgium, no in Germany.
On what this war currently means, or might mean, for energy and thus climate change in the US:
- “Biden’s chance to tackle climate change is fading amid global energy upheaval.” Anna Phillips and Tony Romm, Washington Post. This story keeps changing with the push-pull of American politics; stay tuned.
On the war’s varied and wide-reaching reverberations:
- “Russia’s war on Ukraine spotlights critical energy infrastructure.” Anna Gumbau, Energy Monitor. Considers such globally-significant matters as cybersecurity, decentralization, and digitization.
- “With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Arctic science crumbles.” Tim Lydon, Hakai Magazine.
- “Russia’s war in Ukraine reveals a risk for the EV [electric vehicle] future: price shocks in precious metals.” Marianne Lavelle, Inside Climate News.
- “Whatever his motives, Putin’s war in Ukraine is fueled by Oil and Gas,” Marianne Lavelle, Inside Climate News; and “How to stop oil companies from propping up kleptocrats,” Alexandra Gillies, Foreign Policy. Two eye-opening looks at how trade in oil and gas supports petrostates and the unsavory characters who run them.
- Finally, a pull-it-all-together column from New York Times veteran Thomas L. Friedman: “How to defeat Putin and save the planet.”
This series is curated and written by retired Colorado State University English professor and close climate change watcher SueEllen Campbell of Colorado. To flag works you think warrant attention, send an e-mail to her any time. Let us hear from you.