Outlook 2025: Why oil and gas must play a central role in the transition to a lower carbon economy
The climate narrative has centred on phasing out fossil fuels in favour of renewables and novel solutions, but increasingly, policymakers are realising the importance of hydrocarbons as an enabler of the transition
For over 100 years, oil and gas has been the bedrock of the global economy, enabling immense growth, development and progress across the world. From mobility to materials, healthcare to food, the oil and gas industry has delivered reliable and affordable energy to enable unprecedented prosperity and a doubling of life expectancy. And yet, in recent years, the climate narrative has centered on phasing out hydrocarbons in favour of intermittent renewables, vilifying oil and gas companies as the central cause of the world’s climate problems. Policymakers and activists have sought to hamper energy companies’ financing, cut access to markets and even reduce basic access to energy, neglecting the
Also in this section
10 November 2025
The Russian firm made a significant attempt to expand overseas over the past two decades but is now trying to divest its global operations
10 November 2025
OPEC+ has proven to be astute at bringing back oil production, but mysteries around Chinese buying, missing barrels and oil-on-water have left the group in wait-and-see mode
7 November 2025
The Russian company’s German assets are under Berlin’s management and are exempt from sanctions, for now, but a permanent solution still needs to be found
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined






