In the inaugural episode of the Siemens Energy Podcast, Christian Bruch, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, hosts a fascinating and wide-ranging chat with Ernest J. Moniz, former US Secretary of Energy and current President and CEO of the Energy Futures Initiative.  Topics covered include: The two important benchmarks of access to electricity enunciated in the UN Quality of Life indicators (i.e the jump from access to hundreds of kilowatt-hours per year to thousands)The expectations for the coming November 2021 Glasgow COP meeting (action must match rhetoric)What “de-carbonizing” the economy means in reality (there are sectors that are really difficult to de-carbonize)The need for negative carbon technologies (de-carbonizing is an insufficient strategy)The idea that “net zero” can be a distraction (it is a milestone, not a goal)The realities of renewables (sometimes the wind doesn’t blow)The weaknesses in global supply chains exposed by Covid-19 (energy and security are deeply linked) Moniz also discusses the important role that governments can play in unlocking private capital for an energy transformation. While he was Secretary of Energy, Moniz saw $30 billion of financing reach the hands of private capital, which helped various energy sectors take giant leaps forward. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit Siemens-Energy.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.