29th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Energy Security & Critical Minerals

Ms. Diana Furchtgott-Roth, argued that inexpensive, reliable energy is the foundation for national security, economic strength, and global influence. She challenged the effectiveness of net zero policies, noting that even if Europe or the U.S. eliminated all fossil fuel use, the global temperature impact by 2100 would be minimal, roughly 0.01°C for Europe and 0.2°C for the U.S. because global carbon emissions are rising elsewhere, particularly in China.

She highlighted that heavy spending on renewables in Europe and the U.S. $355 billion annually in the EU alone has raised electricity costs, weakened industry, and accelerated the offshoring of energy-intensive manufacturing to countries like China, which rely on coal and have growing carbon emissions. She emphasized that this deindustrialization undermines defense funding and other priorities such as policing and combating human trafficking. She proposed greater use of low-emission energy sources readily available in the West, such as nuclear power, natural gas, and cleaner coal. As a concrete example, she highlighted Spain’s Vora gas field, which could produce 1% of Spain’s gas consumption by the end of 2026 while adhering to environmental standards, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting domestic energy security.

In conclusion, Ms.Furchtgott-Roth stressed that net zero policies neither protect the climate nor strengthen economies and argued that Western resources would be better spent on defense, supporting Ukraine, and addressing transnational threats, rather than pursuing largely symbolic green energy goals.