Senior executives, policymakers, diplomats, and international experts gathered in Doha this week for the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s second CEO Roundtable of 2026 to discuss evolving priorities in the global energy landscape amid rising geopolitical and climate-related challenges. The event, titled “Energy Security Takes Centre Stage: What It Means for Climate Ambition,” convened under the Chatham House Rule to allow candid dialogue on how energy security is increasingly shaping policy and investment decisions, often surpassing climate change as the foremost concern.
Moderated by journalist Stephen Cole, the roundtable featured contributions from noted experts including Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of UN Environment; Janos Pasztor, former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change; Amal al-Dababseh, UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy in the Arab States; and Aldo Flores-Quiroga, former Deputy Secretary of Energy for Hydrocarbons in Mexico.
Participants examined the structural transformation of the global energy system driven by a convergence of geopolitical fragmentation, intensifying climate pressures, market volatility, rapid technological change, and shifting investment patterns. Discussions highlighted that the concept of energy security now extends beyond traditional concerns over oil supply to include infrastructure resilience, cyber threats, availability of critical minerals, affordability, and overall system reliability.
The dialogue underscored the tensions between immediate security imperatives and long-term decarbonisation ambitions. Some participants debated whether recent expansions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure and fossil fuel investments reflect short-term responses to current instability or indicate a more lasting shift toward a “dual system” where hydrocarbons and clean energy sources develop in parallel to maintain stability and meet demand.
Climate change was identified as a direct contributor to energy insecurity through its impact on infrastructure via extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, droughts, and wildfires. These phenomena are placing increasing stress on energy systems worldwide. Speakers emphasized the importance of embedding climate resilience into energy planning and investment to ensure that transitions are sustainable and robust.
Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, a member of the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s Board of Trustees, highlighted the necessity of pursuing energy security and climate ambitions simultaneously to achieve a transition that is not only realistic but also resilient and secure. The CEO Roundtable series, he noted, remains a vital platform for fostering informed dialogue and sharing independent insights on the future of energy and sustainable development in a rapidly changing global context.