Why exactly is this 2026 energy shock so different from the 1970s & 2022 shocks? Kate and Tim discuss our current energy security landscape, and outline some of the arguments made in their recent Polycrisis essay, just published with Phenomenal World. They also look at whether it matters that financial markets are becoming re-enthused about renewable energy.

Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate Mackenzie, and Tim Sahay from the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. 

• Produced by Sarah Allely
• Original music by Russell Stapleton
• Mixed by Bethany Stewart

Contact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

Links:

Dawn of the Electric World Order: Global shockwaves from the war on Iran are accelerating the energy transition - The Polycrisis  May 8, 2026

Investors pile into clean power as Iran war drives push for energy security - Financial Times, May 3, 2026 

China's Green Tech Firms Target New Consumers Hit by Iran War Energy Shock - Bloomberg News, May 11, 2026

Chinese Electrotech is the Big Winner in the Iran War - Paul Krugman's Substack - April 14, 2026

Ember Global Electricity Review 2025 - Record renewables growth led by solar helped push clean power past 40% of global electricity in 2024, but heatwave-related demand spikes led to a small increase in fossil generation.