This week, ministers and high-ranking officials from 60 nations convened at Lancaster House in London, organized by the UK and the International Energy Agency, to discuss the future of energy security over two days. The European Union had a notable presence, while the United States sent a senior representative; however, China chose to abstain from the event. Here are the key takeaways from the talks.

Despite the persistent geopolitical divisions between the US, China, Europe, and Russia, as well as the disparities between developed nations and the global south, there was a unanimous consensus: ensuring stable and dependable energy sources is a critical goal for all countries, which are increasingly facing insecure supplies.

“Energy security equates to national security,” stated Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, and none of the conflicting factions opposed this assertion. Modern societies and economies cannot operate without reliable energy sources, although nations differ in their strategies for securing these supplies.

Starmer emphasized the UK’s vision centered around clean, low-carbon energy and made a strong commitment to “accelerate” the transition toward decarbonized power, countering critics from both the Labour party and other political entities. This commitment notably supported Ed Miliband, the UK’s energy secretary, amidst hostile commentary from some party members.

Delegates from Europe and developing nations highlighted a significant concern regarding the “weaponization” of energy in conflicts, particularly referencing Russia’s actions during its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s monopoly on gas supplies has led to skyrocketing fossil fuel prices, triggering inflation and a widespread cost-of-living crisis that has heavily impacted the lower-income demographics globally and posed political challenges for many governments in power.

For the majority of attendees at the conference, the clear message was to explore alternatives to fossil fuels, a shift that simultaneously addresses the climate emergency that contributes to its own geopolitical complications and impending global threats.

Nevertheless, oil-rich nations and fossil fuel companies were prominently represented among the 60 attendee countries and 50 global enterprises. The US was particularly vocal in its defense of fossil fuels. Tommy Joyce, acting assistant secretary at the Department of Energy, stunned participants by declaring that aiming for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 was “harmful and dangerous,” cautioning against prioritizing abstract emission objectives over national security.

In contrast, Xi Jinping, China’s president, opted for a smaller, private UN meeting with 18 global leaders to deliver his most significant climate-focused remarks in years. Although he refrained from directly naming the US or Donald Trump, he criticized unilateralism and protectionism detrimental to international norms. He asserted the importance of enhancing confidence, solidarity, and cooperation to navigate global climate governance effectively.

Xi aimed to frame China as a champion for developing nations and a climate leader, promising that China would not waver in its climate efforts, highlighting its establishment of the most extensive and rapidly growing renewable energy systems and the most comprehensive new energy industrial chain.

China’s absence at the London conference may have inadvertently facilitated US participation.

Andreas Sieber, associate director at 350.org, remarked that this moment represents a significant progression, suggesting that the focus should now shift to the extent of China’s forthcoming climate actions.

Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director, underscored that energy security encompasses all energy sources, emphasizing that oil and gas would remain integral to the energy landscape in the foreseeable future.

Birol also expressed support for nuclear energy, despite its high costs and complex construction requirements, alongside safety concerns and radioactive waste management. Nuclear power is appealing to many governments because of its capability to provide stable electricity generation, which can complement grids reliant on variable renewable sources such as wind and solar.

France, known for having one of the world’s most advanced nuclear power sectors, saw Energy Minister Marc Ferracci championing its benefits. “Nuclear remains significantly appealing,” he stated. “While initial costs may be steep, it ultimately offers dispatchable energy and stability, enhancing the resilience of the electricity supply system.”

Miliband identified nuclear energy as a shared area of agreement on energy and climate policies between the UK and the US.

Since withdrawing the US from the Paris climate accord, Donald Trump has disrupted renewable energy progress, recently halting a significant offshore wind project near New York and threatening further interruptions while advocating for fossil fuel use.

However, this could create openings for other nations keen on renewable energy and seeking investment opportunities. On the eve of the summit, Starmer proclaimed, “Let my message resonate worldwide: come to Britain and contribute to the clean energy future.”

While he was not specifically targeting the US, investors deterred in one key economy are likely to recognize where their investments might be better received.

The discourse at the conference prominently featured critical minerals, a broad term for essential metals and rare earth elements required for developing clean and low-carbon technologies, ranging from wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries to solar panels and electrical grids. This category spans various materials, including lithium and cobalt, as well as the rarer yttrium and scandium, alongside more widely used metals like nickel and copper.

While some of these elements are scarce, others are more accessible, yet they face escalating demand as sourcing difficulties and rising costs become evident, with a significant portion of processing centralized among a few specialized operations. China dominates this market, handling between 60% and 80% of the global supply of certain critical minerals.

Joyce, representing the US, cautioned that “there are no alternatives” to China for sourcing these vital minerals, advocating for a continued reliance on oil and gas.

David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, conveyed during a closed-door session that strengthening the supply chain for clean energy components—from solar panels to electric vehicles—represents the next hurdle in global decarbonization efforts. “The forthcoming mission of the Global Clean Power Alliance addresses the necessity for resilient, secure, and low-cost clean energy supply chains. These crucial links are concentrated in a limited number of markets, creating investment barriers and restricting economic advantages. It is our collective responsibility to dismantle these obstacles.”