Event

The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought the issue of energy security to the top of the global agenda, placing it on par with international concern about climate change. As countries, businesses, and individuals increase their efforts to move away from carbon-intensive energy, their actions will increasingly change how countries interact with one another, affect prospects for war and peace, and influence the pace of globalization. In this talk, Professor Meghan O’Sullivan will explain how the drive to address climate change will be one of the biggest geopolitical forces of the coming decade. 

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Meghan L. O’Sullivan is the Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs and the Director of the Geopolitics of Energy Project at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. She is also a Partner at the strategic consulting firm Macro Advisory Partners and is the Chair of the North American Group of the Trilateral Commission.

Professor O'Sullivan draws on her broad experience in government, business, diplomacy, and academia to shed insights into foreign policy and national security, energy markets, the transition to a net-zero global economy, and the geopolitics of that transition to benefit her students and colleagues, the U.S. government, global businesses, and the public debate.

Between 2004 and 2007, Professor O'Sullivan was special assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan during the last two years of her tenure. She also worked in the office of Policy Planning in the State Department under Secretary of State Colin Powell. From July 2013 to December 2013, O'Sullivan was the Vice Chair of the All Party Talks in Northern Ireland, which sought to resolve outstanding issues in the peace process. Today, Meghan is a member of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Foreign Policy Advisory Board.

Professor O'Sullivan's extensive writings on international affairs include her award winning 2017 book Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power. She has been awarded the Defense Department's highest honor for civilians, the Distinguished Public Service Medal, and three times been awarded the State Department's Superior Honor Award. O’Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a masters of science in economics, and doctorate in politics from Oxford University.

This event is free and open to the public. Register