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Learn More About Daniel Yergin
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.”
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Dr. Daniel Yergin is a recipient of the United States Energy Award for “lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding.” He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Prime Minister of India, and the U.S. Department of Energy presented him with the first “James R. Schlesinger Medal for Energy Security.” He serves as director of the Council on Foreign Relations, a director of the United States Energy Association and a trustee of the Brookings Institution. In addition, he is a member of the Energy Think Tank of the Government of India, the Energy Advisory Council of the Dallas Federal Reserve, and the U.S. National Petroleum Council, and sits on the advisory boards of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative and the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy.
Daniel Yergin is available for virtual and in-person speaking engagements and consulting meetings, including facilitating dialogues and conversations and delivering customized keynotes, through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
The New Map: Energy, Climate, and 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 and 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, and 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.
America Can’t Do Without Fracking
October 30, 2024
Global Energy Leaders Gather In Houston For CERAWeek
March 12, 2024
All is Quiet in Oil Markets – for Now
November 15, 2023
The Business Leader’s Guide to Navigating Geopolitical Risk
November 15, 2023
50 Years After the Arab Oil Embargo (Audio)
October 17, 2023
‘Net Zero’ Will Mean a Mining Boom
April 12, 2023
How Global Energy Relationships Are Changing in 2023 (Audio)
January 9, 2023
Putin Can't Count on the Global Oil Market
December 26, 2022
Bumps In the Energy Transition
December 2022
Energy Crisis Reshaping Global Markets (Video)
November 25, 2022
Looking for Answers to the Global Energy Crisis (Audio)
October 12, 2022
The Battle Over Wages Is a Sign Itself of Inflation (Video)
September 14, 2022
Will Putin’s Energy Strategy Backfire? (Audio)
September 13, 2022
My 2001 Interview with Gorbachev
August 31, 2022
The Putin-Xi Economic War Games ($)
August 17, 2022
Winter in Europe May Be Springtime for Putin
August 3, 2022
Bloomberg Surveillance – Davos 2022 (Audio)
May 25, 2022
One Word That Triggers Putin (Audio)
May 19, 2022
Europe No Longer Trusts Moscow’s Energy Brand
April 29, 2022
Securing America's Footing in the Global Energy Markets
October 6, 2021
‘The New Map’ Review: Tapping the Untappable
September 28, 2020
The New Geopolitics of Energy
September 11, 2020
Visions of an Age When Oil Isn’t King
September 20, 2011
The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations
(Penguin Press, September 2020)
Inflation Reduction Act: Impact on North America Metals and Minerals Market
(S&P Global, August 2023)
The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World
(Penguin Books; Updated, Revised, Reprint edition, September 2011)
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power
(Free Press; Reissue edition (April 2011)
The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
(Simon & Schuster; Revised ed. edition, June 2002)
Russia 2010: And What It Means for the World
(Vintage; Revised ed. edition, February 1995)
Shattered Peace: The Origins of the Cold War
(Penguin Books; Revised edition, April 1990)
Dan Yergin Named 2020 “Energy Writer of the Year”
“Mr. Yergin’s legendary contributions to the field, highlighted with the release of ‘The New Map,’ made this year’s selection obvious. We selected him as the Energy Writer of the Year for his intellectual approach, his balanced treatment of competing ideas, his extraordinary grasp of an enormous subject, his methodical defense of an ambitious thesis with massive amounts of data, his masterful storytelling skills and in recognition of a lifetime of literary achievement.”
“America’s most influential energy pundit.”
“If there is one man whose opinion matters more than any other on global energy markets, it’s Daniel Yergin.”
“One of the planet’s foremost thinkers about energy and its implications.”
“Required reading. Another winner from a master.”
Praise for “The New Map”
"2022 was a year when we saw the collision of many macro-level challenges – such as geopolitical crises, energy concerns, rising interest rates, elevated inflation, and currency risk – that markets have had the luxury of ignoring for the better part of 15 years. I picked up this book to reacquaint myself with global politics through the lens of the energy market, an area in which Pulitzer Prize-winner Daniel Yergin has become a leading expert. The story that Yergin weaves is well worth a read if you want insight into the history and the plumbing – quite literally – of today’s global political and energy systems." Oaktree's Year-End Book Recommendations
“This should be mandatory reading for President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming team.”
“A master class on how the world works.”
“[‘The New Map’] earned energy’s highest literary prize for its ambitious survey and realistic assessment of energy and how it shapes all of human affairs. It is also an exceptional literary triumph in its narrative and in the quality of writing that we have come to expect from Dan Yergin.”
“The veteran energy analyst Daniel Yergin has turned his considerable talents to explaining how the world continues to be shaped by oil in his latest book, ‘The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations’ . . . Reportorial and supremely readable—no mean feat among geostrategy tomes.”
“At a time when solid facts and reasoned arguments are in retreat, Daniel Yergin rides to the rescue. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author…provides an engaging survey course on the lifeblood of modern civilization — where the world has been and where it is likely headed.”
“Brisk and authoritative, an impressive combination.”
“Yergin is a rare writer who can synthesize economics, energy, history, geopolitics and technology.”
“’The New Map’ is a kaleidoscopic survey of seemingly every geopolitical development in recent (and not so recent) history, all seen through the lens of energy, national rivalries, changing technologies, and the looming threat of climate change . . . Yergin, the vice chairman of the energy research powerhouse IHS Markit, is strongest when it comes to oil and gas, still the mainstays of the world’s energy supplies now and in the decades to come. Even readers familiar with the U.S. ‘shale gale’ will find new gems in his retelling of the pioneers who shattered shale to unleash a revolution. Russia, today leveraging oil and gas the way it once wielded Marxist-Leninist ideas, also provides great grist for Yergin, as do China’s energy-driven forays into the South China Sea . . . Admirable, well-researched, highly readable examination.”
“’The New Map’ is a must-read for those who are national security experts or aspire to be. Why? Because most national security professionals, this one included, have deep expertise on certain issues or regions, but we do not have it across the full range of the world’s most pressing issues. In ‘The New Map,’ Yergin demonstrates this global mastery. He reviews critical historical decisions of key nations and international coalitions, as well as the inflection points where opportunities were lost or created, bringing us to today’s geopolitical environment. In the telling, the reader gains a much broader understanding of other nations’ historical perspectives, their leaders’ goals in the new world order, and how both factors influence nations’ actions today . . .Do yourself a favor, read this one. You’ll be glad you did.”
“At its heart, ‘The New Map,’ by Daniel Yergin, is a book about power: both in the sense of power as fuel to move cars, tractor-trailers and oceangoing ships, to run factories and light up cities; but also power in the sense of political power, that nations wield to drive their economies toward opening up to world markets or to becoming more protectionist and insulated, to exert their influence over the trading patterns of their neighbors, and to wage war or work for a peaceful and mutually prosperous co-existence with the rest of the world.”
“A lucid, judicious overview of global energy and its discontents.”
“Yergin delivers a fascinating and meticulously researched page-turner . . . Required reading. Another winner from a master.”