UUniFI Energy Transition: How do geopolitics shape the energy transition?

How do geopolitics shape the energy transition—and how can different fields help us understand its consequences?

In this seminar, speakers from wide-ranging disciplines will each offer their perspectives on this pressing global challenge.

By placing disciplinary insights side by side, the seminar will illuminate how political tensions, security concerns, technological developments, legal frameworks, and environmental realities interact to shape the future of energy systems.

The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Professor Carl Fredrik Bergström.

Bridging the Gap in Energy Transition is a seminar series organised by UUniFI Energy Transition, part of Uppsala University Future Institutes. This is the fourth event.

Register no later than 4 December to secure your place. Coffee, tea and time for conversation included.

Seminar program

09:30—09:40 | Welcome by Malin Göteman, UUniFI Energy Transition and Carl-Fredrik Bergstöm, Dept. of Law, Uppsala University.

Carl Fredrik Bergström, Dept. of Law, Uppsala University. Professor of European Law and Law Faculty Deputy Dean responsible for research. His main areas of expertise are EU law and constitutional theory, with a current focus on legal governance in the energy sector.

09:40—10:50 10 min presentations by leading experts in disciplines ranging from energy security, international relations, and future energy systems.

Anna Michalski, Dept. of Government, Uppsala University. With a research interest spanning over international relations and foreign policy analysis, with a particular focus on EU-China relations, her expertise on how EU policy navigates in the shifting geopolitical landscape is an increasingly important topic in the energy transition.

Cecilia Gustavsson, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Uppsala University. As an expert on nuclear archaeology and nuclear fuel cycle analyses as well as detection and verification techniques for nuclear materials, Cecilia Gustavsson carries out research on nuclear disarmament within the interdisciplinary Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament. Besides this, she is also active in research regarding current and future nuclear energy systems.

Ashok Swain, Dept. of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University. Ashok Swain is a Professor and Head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. He is also the UNESCO Chair of International Water Cooperation. His expertise on emerging security challenges, climate change and conflicts, and democracy and sustainable development, are needed to understand how geopolitics shape the energy transition.

Henrik Wachtmeister, The Swedish Institute of International Affairs (Utrikespolitiska institutet). His research has focused on analyzing oil production, renewable energy sources, critical metals, and energy transition dynamics. He specializes in Russian–European energy relations, including how EU policies affect Russian oil and gas revenues.

Mikael Höök, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University. His research deals with availability and production of fossil fuels, but also supply of other natural resources such as lithium and other raw materials for the green energy technologies, as well as energy systems developments and energy security.

Elin Akinci, ELS Analysis. As the CEO and founding partner of ELS Analysis, a leading consultancy company on global energy markets, policy developments, political risks and how they are interlinked, Elin Akinci understands the challenges of navigating through increasingly complex energy markets and policies.

10:50—11:20 Coffee break

11:20—12:00 Panel debate moderated by Prof. Carl Fredrik Bergström, Dept. of Law