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In January 2025 the era of cheap Russian gas flowing into Europe came to an end when Ukraine refused to renew its five-year transit deal with Russia’s Gazprom. That same month, President Trump began his presidency with sweeping measures to drill for more oil and crush his predecessor’s push for clean energy. He’s also threatening tariffs that have the world’s energy suppliers extremely anxious. Add it all up and the picture is clear: energy will play a pivotal role in the economy in the year ahead.

Who better to make sense of this than Helen Thompson? A Cambridge Professor and author of the acclaimed Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century, Thompson has spent years studying and dissecting the role of energy in driving economic and political instability. 

For this installment of the Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook, Thompson joins BBC broadcaster Jonny Dymond to delve into the critical energy issues of our time. From the future of the energy transition to the strategic maneuvers of global powers vying for control of energy resources, Thompson will shed light on how these dynamics will unfold in the coming year, and how businesses and governments need to adapt to face these mounting challenges. 

Join the discussion live at Smith Square Hall on May 12, and have your questions answered in the Q&A.