Energy ‘transition’ or ‘triage’ — which do they choose? A global journey from idealism to realpolitik

When energy heavyweights, financiers and geopolitical policymakers convened at CERAWeek 2025, they confronted a truth too long ignored: the path to a net-zero future is being redrawn by geopolitics, national security imperatives and a resurgent fossil-fuel lobby. The publication titled ‘The energy transition’s disrupted path forward’ by S&P Global Commodity Insights, which gathers all the key points from the convention, it is clear that what emerges is not an orderly glide to clean power, but a fractured landscape where ‘energy security’ increasingly trumps decarbonisation. For industry leaders and investors, this realignment demands recalibrated strategies, deeper risk assessments and a readiness to pivot on both policy and market fronts.

To set things straight, when we discuss energy demand, we are referring to all energy uses, including electricity, transport fuels, and fuels for heating and industrial processes. Our current energy system is entering a significant period of transformation. To address the threat of climate change, we must eliminate fossil fuels from the UK energy system by 2050. While energy efficiency has improved and demand in the UK has decreased considerably over the past decade, it is essential to continue and strengthen this trend. It’s important to note that electricity demand is only one aspect of overall energy demand.

The US vs China energy rewind: Abundance beats decarbonisation?