Today's class was spent talking about Energy; Solar Energy, Nuclear Energy, and the increasing effects of climate being seen and experienced because of the global dependence on less environmentally friendly forms of energy and energy production. The discussion was guided by the three transatlantic policy memoranda written on Energy and the transatlantic order. To kick things off, the group talked about the idea of a "just transition," in the world of energy production. The group that wrote "How to Create 'Just Transitions' Across the Atlantic," offered several recommendations as part of their presentation, the most interesting being, that the US and EU encourage a more collaborative climate change effort with China, as a means of expanding the effort and motivating China to meet its climate objectives.
As it was brought up during the discussion of "just transitions," the next transatlantic policy memorandum discussed by the group was, "Nuclear Energy in the Climate Change Architecture: Convergence, Divergence, and Challenges in Transatlantic Relations." The group acknowledged the lack of consensus when it comes to nuclear energy, whether it is green energy or not, with some asserting that nuclear power has properly been given its due. At the same time, one cannot help but also acknowledge the myriad nuclear incidents that have occurred, from Chernobyl to Three-Mile Island and the earthquake in Japan.
After a short break, which included the enjoyment of some cake to celebrate the end of the semester and the upcoming graduation of several AU students, the class came back together for the final transatlantic policy memo presentation, "Comparative Study on Solar Energy between the US and the EU." The group's presentation discussed how despite the often turbulent nature of the EU-US energy relationship, and the reality of the Ukraine-Russia conflict leading to an abandonment of pursuing alternative energy at the moment, the election of President Joe Biden in the US offers a renewed opportunity for transatlantic cooperation in the realm of renewable energy.
To close out this final meeting of AU and KU Leuven, the students and professors reflected on what they have learned and what they have seen in the transatlantic space during this course. With the ongoing Ukraine-Russia situation, there is of course been ongoing conflict, but also a great resurgence of cooperation, and a shift from the traditional idea of American hegemony, as the EU powers, have in many ways taken the lead through the conflict. Despite the turbulence of the Trump years, the continued lack of consensus on certain issues, the proposal for a European strategic autonomy, the EU-US relationship, and the so-called transatlantic order has not witnessed a total breakdown and is unlikely to see such an occurrence any time soon.
This has been an enlightening, engaging, and educational course, in a myriad of ways. Here's hoping that all those involved have gained what they hoped to gain from this experience and that more classes like this one will take place in the future. The transatlantic order may not be in imminent danger of collapse, but it is efforts such as this class that will help to bolster this highly important international relationship.
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