The XVIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Energetika XXI: Economy, Policy, Ecology” will be held on 12 -13 November 2025 in St. Petersburg in hybrid format on the topic — “Challenges and Opportunities for Energy and Climate Raised by a Changing Global Order”.

Background:
Energetika 21 is a scientific and practical conference regularly held in November in St. Petersburg, addressing energy, environment and GHG issues by offering a platform to exchange information and ideas on these topics. In times of increasing global tensions and uncertainties Energetika 21 focuses on the unanimously agreed targets of the Paris Agreement (PA) as a topic of globally joint interest and the different approaches to achieve them taking into account different situations between the global South and North and their implications as well as recent global developments which have to be factored in.
The challenges to provide reliable energy while reducing GHG emissions to keep global warming well under 2°C if possible, within 1.5°C as agreed by the Paris Agreement which for the global South includes CO2 free economic development to provide a decent standard of living for its fast growing population.

These challenges are aggravated by recent conflicts with impact on trade especially of energy and energy devices and related raw materials as well as the imposing restrictions on handling currency and payments. This creates a need for BRICS+ countries to shield themselves from the negative impacts of such developments. The conference will address the persisting challenges of meeting the climate goals and economic growth for the Global South as well as the recently emerged extra challenges.

The two days Conference will be in hybrid format. On the first day two sessions will first address the development of low carbon technologies and related issues of raw materials and second issues specific to BRICS+ countries. This will be followed by a discussion of young researchers on the skill development needed in view the roll out of low CO2 technologies and in view of the tremendous population increase especially in the global South.

The second day will start by a plenary session addressing various angles of the changing global order and it implications for energy and climate. The afternoon session will look at investment and financing in CO2 free energy in the global South. Finally, the concluding discussion will address the extra challenges for BRICS+ countries stemming from recent trade obstacles.

Organizational issues:
The language of the workshop is English and Russian (simultaneous translation provided). It will take place at the facilities of UNECON (Griboedov Canal Emb. 30-32, St. Petersburg) with the option to participate online. Participation is free, subject to registration and available places. To register, please, contact the Organizing Committee : energetika@unecon.ru.