Global Energy Politics: A game-changing Political diplomacy – Part 2

In the previous blog (What Is Global Energy Politics? How and who shapes the strategic game? – PolyBlogger.com), we saw the following topic –

1. What is global energy politics, and its core
2. Traditional and renewable sources of energy and the net-zero concept
3. Energy independence and vulnerability
4. Why energy reserves are essential.

Now in this blog, we will see –

• How politics revolves around global energy.
• What measures have international agencies taken to eliminate carbon emissions, and what are the political implications?
• Is the climate policy a new trap for the emerging countries and a blessing for the developed nations?
• Can energy be a weapon?
• Future of energy and many more topics

Those who can control energy control most of the politics. Production of energy brings prosperity, security, and peace in the region because the consumer countries will always protect their interest, leading to the security of the producers.

Having said that, let’s deep dive into the main topics.

Sustainability

The world is now behind sustainable investments and growth. But what is sustainability? It has three parts: ESG – Environment, Social, and Governance. Social factor includes diversity and inclusions. Governance factors include stewardship initiatives such as shareholder relationships, periodic AGMs, clean financials, and robust steps to prevent fraud. Here we will only discuss the environmental factor.

We will explore ‘sustainability’ in more depth in a future blog post.

Sustainability involves reducing carbon emissions by minimising the use of carbon-emitting energies, such as fossil fuels, and increasing the use of clean, renewable energies, all while operating the business profitably and delivering sustainable returns to investors. It also means using cleaner, more renewable energies.

The modern focus of the investors is now towards more sustainable investments. Sustainable investment means investors are willing to invest only in businesses that follow the best practices mentioned below.

The sustainable business activities include –

1. Reducing the use of physical papers and going digital.
2. Using renewable energies to power businesses.
3. Using naturally degradable and/or reusable packaging while keeping strength and quality at the optimum level
4. Utilising high-quality plastics for storage and packaging (e.g., cold drinks bottles and packaging, fruit crates, etc.)
5. Establishing recycling machines across the region where they sell the products.
6. Incentivizing those who help businesses recycle the waste produced by their businesses
7. Reducing, reusing, and recycling industrial wastes.
8. Conservative use of natural resources, such as water. Recycling and Reusing it.
9. Avoiding air travel is a way to reduce carbon emissions.
10. Engaging in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities, including beach/garden/street cleaning, plantation, setting up recycling plants, and participating in or conducting awareness campaigns.
11. Continuous training and implementing sustainable developments.

Sustainability is the step agreed by international organizations like UNFCCC (we will discuss them below) to achieve climate diplomacy and a cleaner environment.

There are ‘ifs and buts’ though, we will discuss that as well.

Climate Agreements and Energy Diplomacy

Global energy politics intersect with climate diplomacy. The world is increasingly concerned about the environment, particularly following the industrial revolutions that have occurred across Europe, America, Japan, Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Russia.

Agreements like the Paris Accord and COP summits push nations to reduce emissions, invest in renewables, and share technology that may save environmental damage.

The most famous COP was COP21 in Paris (2015), which led to the Paris Agreement—a landmark deal to keep global temperature rise “well below 2°C.” The abovementioned sustainability is part of these agreements.

The COP Summit, short form of ‘Conference of the Parties’, is the annual climate conference organised by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). It’s where world leaders, scientists, activists, and negotiators gather to assess progress on climate goals and push forward global action.

But climate commitments often clash with national interests. Especially the double standards of the developed nations are clearly visible. Let’s analyze it.

• Developing countries argue for the right to grow and industrialize, even if it means burning more coal.
• Wealthy nations push for decarbonization but sometimes outsource emissions through global supply chains.
• Oil-rich states resist aggressive climate targets that threaten their economies.

Despite every country having its own selfish interests, modern technologies, robust processes, and political will are needed to mitigate pollution and global warming.

Energy diplomacy necessitates compromises that developing nations may not be willing to make, and it also requires technology transfers, climate finance, and other measures that developed countries are unlikely to agree to.

Politics behind the climate change and sustainability agreements

As I mentioned above, the term sustainable development plays a crucial role in the investments. However, it has another side as well. Please have a look at the abovementioned countries and continent. All went through the Industrial Revolution.

In fact, some of these countries have kept their core territories pollution-free but are extracting fossil fuels, minerals, and metals like Gold and silver in economically weaker countries in Africa, Asia, or in the deep oceans. Hardly anyone will point out this double standard.

Economically stronger countries have already gone through industrial and economic development. When economically weaker countries seek to revolutionise their economies through industrialisation, stronger countries will pressure, penalise, or sanction them in the name of sustainable development.

The main concerns are –

• More than half of the above countries have colonised or captured parts of the world, extracted the precious resources without ‘quid pro quo’, enslaving the local nationals, only to fill their treasury.
• That time, no one cared about sustainability, the environment, and climate change; it’s strange.
• There were no scientists and philosophers then?
• Was the education level low?
• Or is it purely a business of creating wealth by exploiting the world?
• Suspiciously, haven’t they planned the strategy to retain global power?
• Is it purely because the rich people and politicians are concerned about the melting glaciers that may drown their properties in the coastal areas?
• Is it just a good-looking wrapper around the selfishness?

Energy as a Weapon in Politics

Energy isn’t just a commodity for the business, welfare and development—it also works as a weapon. Countries use energy access to reward allies and punish rivals.

• The President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, is trying to pressure India to stop buying oil from Russia. He opines that India is fueling the Russia-Ukraine war deliberately, forgetting what the EU and the USA are purchasing from Russia, AND directly supplying weapons and financial support to Ukraine.
• Russia cut gas supplies to Europe during political standoffs, triggering energy crises. Many EU countries have started questioning the sanctions on Russia. They are worried about their energy supply. Clearly, when it comes to securing the energy supply, no one bothers about others’ issues.
• The U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, targeting their oil exports to weaken regimes.
• China restricts rare earth exports, pressuring countries that challenge its policies.

These tactics reveal the strategic value of energy. Control over supply chains, infrastructure, and trade routes becomes a form of soft and hard power.

The Economics of Energy Politics

Energy prices affect inflation, trade balances, and investment flows, resulting in effects on the GDP. When oil prices spike, transportation and manufacturing costs rise. It has a direct impact on the individuals. When gas prices fall, exporters lose revenue.

OPEC’s production decisions influence global oil prices and economic stability.

The bigger problem is that many energy-sourcing countries are either under sanctions or embroiled in prolonged or temporary wars, and are experiencing internal unrest due to various reasons. So the energy sourcing choices are limited.

Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and many other oil-producing countries are under sanctions. There are restrictions on buying coal from Australia and other regions. There are very high restrictions on buying nuclear fuel. If a government tries to find a new source in the deep seas, it may come under sanctions. American oil is too costly due to transportation costs, production costs, and the time it takes to deliver.

So, the sources become limited, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman.

• Energy subsidies distort markets and create political backlash.
• Carbon taxes reshape consumer behaviour and industrial strategy.

Governments must balance affordability, sustainability, and competitiveness. Energy policy becomes economic policy. Countries should stand firmly on their independent policies irrespective of international pressures.

Case Study: India’s Energy Diplomacy

India offers a fascinating example of energy politics in action, largely unaffected by international pressures.

• It imports over 80% of its oil, making energy security a top priority.
• It maintains ties with Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, navigating complex alliances.
• It invests in solar parks, wind farms, and green hydrogen, aiming for net-zero by 2070.
• It faces pressure from Western nations to reduce coal use, while millions still lack reliable electricity.
• To add, there are climate agreements and sustainability to pressure
• There is pressure to tweak the independent diplomatic policy to reduce dependency on the Russian energy supply.
• India also stores the energy needs of the country for at least 15 days in case of an energy crisis.

India’s energy strategy blends pragmatism with ambition. It seeks to lead the Global South in climate negotiations while protecting its developmental needs.

The Future of Global Energy Politics

The next decade will completely transform our views about energy and power. The new trends may include:

• Decentralization: Instead of relying solely on the government’s renewable energy initiatives, People will we’ll see more people generating their own electricity through rooftop solar panels, microgrids, and community-led projects. Ethanol and biogas production will also become more local, giving citizens a bigger role in shaping their energy future.
•  
• Digitization: At the same time, digitalization is changing the game. Smart grids, AI-powered energy systems, and blockchain-based platforms are making infrastructure
•  more intelligent, responsive, and

efficient. The energy world is becoming more connected—and more personalized—than ever before.

Conclusion

There are vast patterns to study in Global Energy politics. Wealthy nations are running behind in cleaner energy and sustainability, but their intentions and actions are suspicious. These countries have either snatched the world’s wealth or have transferred the work of energy production to other countries. But they had already gone through the development cycle and harmed the environment.

Whereas, developing countries are striving for development and growth that attracts more energy consumption and degrades the environment.

Wars are ongoing, leading to competition for securing energy. All this is trying to control energy sources, consumers, prices and distribution as well.

The difference of opinions and political ambitions will never lead to a good result in global energy politics.

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