Clean technology supply chains are the new battleground, with the EU countering US and Chinese moves through shrewd trade diplomacy. MEP Udo Bullmann champions partnerships with South Africa and beyond, turning competition into collaborative growth. Amid intensifying rivalries, Brussels leverages its market clout to secure batteries, solar panels, and rare earths.
The 2030 mega-trends—climate chaos, urbanization, power shifts—demand this agility. ESPAS reports flag conflict risks in a transitioning order, urging the multilateral EU to futureproof institutions. Yet trade barriers multiply: Washington's IRA subsidies irk Europeans, while Beijing floods markets with cheap greens.
Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute urges adaptation in a changing landscape, as ESRB conferences dissect systemic risks. Europe's edge? Regulatory heft and innovation hubs, if harnessed via strategic openness.
Society stakes are high: jobs in renewables could revive rust belts, but protectionism breeds resentment. Success means leading the transition; failure, energy dependence.
