The Iran oil shock: will it force the world to re-think the future of energy?

"This is the largest oil supply disruption the world has ever seen."

Jason Bordoff of the Center on Global Energy Policy and the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast joins us to explore the potential long-term impacts on global energy systems of the oil shock caused by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The episode, recorded a few days before the news that the UAE was quitting OPEC, was made in collaboration with the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast: https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/series/columbia-energy-exchange/

Links:

Columbia Energy Exchange podcast: https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/series/columbia-energy-exchange/

The Iran Shock And the Dangerous Allure of Energy Autarky (Foreign Policy): https://www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/iran-shock

Energy independence could make America more aggressive (Financial Times): https://www.ft.com/content/2c2c6f08-d5c0-41e5-ab0c-1605dba64582?shareType=nongift

Energy Transition Index (World Economic Forum), available from 17 June, 2026: wef.ch/ETI26

What leaders are saying about the renewed geopolitics of energy (World Economic Forum): https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/04/geopolitics-of-energy-what-leaders-are-saying/

3 lessons on the energy transition in an age of crisis (World Economic Forum): https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/04/3-lessons-energy-transition-age-of-crisis/

World Economic Forum Centre for Energy and Materials: https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-energy-and-materials/

Related podcasts:

The rise of industrial policy - why governments are back in the business of business: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/industrial-policy-trade-choke-points/

Welcome to Cold War Two: historian Niall Ferguson on geopolitics in 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/niall-ferguson-geopolitics-cold-war/

"Everything has changed" - Gita Gopinath on the global economy in 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/gita-gopinath-global-economy-2026/

Are we on track for the energy transition? Insights from three CEOs: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/energy-transition-electrification-siemens-aes-envision/

Climate science is clearer than ever. How should companies respond?: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/climate-science-policy-business-response/

Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts: 

YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts

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Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560

Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552