Resource Politics
This Year's El Nino Will Test Food, Trade, and Governments
The world is heading toward another major El Nino, and governments across Asia are already preparing for its consequences. Droughts could reduce crop yields in some countries, while heavier rains raise the risk of flooding in others. Food production, trade, and inflation are all likely to come under renewed pressure at a time when many economies are still adjusting to higher energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty. &...
Jul 21, 2026
Read More →
Can Oil Production and Climate Goals Coexist? Oman Thinks So
The world is getting hotter, and scientists broadly agree that burning oil, gas, and coal is the main reason why. That leaves oil producing nations in an uncomfortable spot. They are most responsible for climate change but also among the ones with the most to lose if they stop. So what does a country do when the thing that pays its bills is also the thing the rest of the world wants less of? Oman's government thinks it has found a middle...
Read More →
North America's Rare Earth Reserves Could Reduce China’s Global Supply Chain Power
Rare earth minerals have become one of the world's most strategic resources. They are essential for electric vehicles, smartphones, wind turbines, semiconductors, advanced military systems, and artificial intelligence. For years, China has dominated their production and processing, giving Beijing enormous leverage over industries that underpin both economic growth and national security. New assessments suggest the United States and Canad...
Read More →
Europe’s Green Energy Conundrum: Lots of Power, No Way to Store It
The good news is Europe is generating more clean electricity than ever before. The bad news is it does not have enough infrastructure to store it. This imbalance is creating a paradox at the heart of the continent’s energy transition: it has abundant renewable energy on one hand, yet still has a deep dependence on gas power on the other. Europe’s green energy transition refers to the shift away from fossil fuels like coal, oi...
Read More →
Agriculture Overtakes Oil as Key Driver of Angola’s Economy
Angola is entering a new economic phase as agriculture emerges as a central driver of growth. While oil has dominated the economy since the early 2000s, farming, food production, and rural industries are becoming increasingly important sources of jobs, investment, and economic stability. With extensive arable land, favorable climate conditions, and rising investment, Angola is expanding production of crops such as corn, cassava, bananas,...
Read More →