The XVIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Energetika XXI: Economy, Policy, Ecology” took place at UNECON on 12-13 November 2025 in hybrid format on the topic — “Challenges and Opportunities for Energy and Climate raised by a Changing Global Order”. Representatives of foreign and Russian energy companies, universities and research institutes participated in the conference.

The first day was devoted to the discussion of the development of low carbon technologies and challenges faced by BRICS+ countries. Session 1 addressed various decarbonisation technologies and their aspects of development and chaired by Ralf Dickel, Member of the Program Committee, Independent expert (Germany). The head of the project, department of analytical research from Center for Energy Research Ekaterina Grushevenko showed the current CCS projects; Jens Völler, Team Consult G.P.E. GmbH (Germany) presented German experience in district heating in a climate-neutral energy system. Evgeny Koloshkin from Gazprom presented key technologies in hydrogen energy in Russia. Technological innovations in hydropower, and how this sector adapts to climate change was shown by Liubov Yaroshenko, Associate Director, Department for International Cooperation, En+ Group. Professor of Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” Evgeny Terukov showed current trends in solar energy.

Within the second session speakers from BRICS+ countries shared the challenges their countries face while implementing low carbon technologies. Wu Neal from Houpu Clean Energy Group Co., Ltd (China) presented the hydrogen strategy of the company and what challenges China faces in cooperation with Russia. Professor of the Energy Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro Edmar de Almeida spoke about the energy transition in Brazil, and in particular, about the initiative of Tropical Forest Forever Facility Fund that will be launched at COP30. Aleksey Kobzev (Kazakh-German Universitty (DKU)) specified the importance of smart grids development and their use for more effective electric power transmission in Central Asia. Professor Erik Escalona Aguilar from Bernardo O’Higgins University (Chile) presented the research on climate change in the Southern Hemisphere. The independent expert Irina Mironova highlighted the perspectives for cooperation in BRICS+ countries. The topic was developed withtin the following discussion of the young researchers, among which were the specialists from ASEAN countries — participants of InteRussia fellowship programme “Changing Energy Landscape”, implemented by UNECON in collaboration with The Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund. Within the young researchers discussion representatives from Egypt, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Russia shared their views and challenges of energy transition in their countries as well as ideas on improving the training of energy specialists.

The second day of the conference opened with the Plenary session on challenges and opportunities for energy and climate raised by a changing global order. Speakers from different countries presented their decarbonisation policies, emphasising the increasing role of BRICS+ countries. Associate professor of Renmin University of China Guo Bowei shared the latest research on the future of China’s energy security, in particular, increasing role of AI; director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Digital Transformation (UNECON) Timur Ismailov spoke about the balance between energy security and energy transition; decarbonisation policy of energy sector in Brazil was covered by Luciano Losekann, Fluminense Federal University; professor Constance Van Horne from the Abu Dhabi School of Management presented low carbon strategy of UAE; Vivek Nanoti, Priyadarshini Institute of Engineering & Technology, described energy initiatives and technologies in India on its path to the “green” economy.

Session on mobilizing investment gathered the following speakers: Alexey Grivach, National Energy Security Fund with presentation about the role of investment in traditional fuels for sustainable energy development; senior visiting research fellow from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Julian Bowden made analysis of renewables progress and investment projects in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries; Ralf Dickel emphasised the importance of complementarity and scale of PV production in BRICS+ countries with particular focus on Africa.

Concluding panel discussion was devoted to challenges of decarbonisation in a world of increasing uncertainties and geopolitical shifts. Representatives from different countries participated in the discussion: Thomas Geisel, member of the European Parliament, Michael Sipos, independent expert from Romania, Grigory Yarygin (St. Petersburg State University) and Chanchhaya Chhom, CEO of JIRRA Green BIZ (Cambodia). Speakers shared their views on new global energy order, the role of AI in energy sector, perspective of decarbonisation in Global South and Global North, financing decarbonisation challenges in the world and technology development.