How Energy Security Became National Security | Ep278: Alexander De Croo

The world is facing a new era of geopolitical instability, rising energy costs and declining development finance. For many countries, access to reliable, affordable energy is no longer just an economic priority, it is a question of security.

Recorded in New York during the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week, this episode of Cleaning Up sees guest host Ana Rovzar, Chief of Staff at the Global Renewables Alliance, speak with Alexander De Croo, former Prime Minister of Belgium and now Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

They explore how renewable energy can reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, how decentralised energy systems can strengthen resilience, and what Ukraine’s experience reveals about protecting critical energy infrastructure. The conversation also examines how to attract investment in grids and clean energy, the decline in development assistance, and AI’s potential to accelerate progress.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Energy security as national security
• Renewables and fossil fuel dependence
• Financing the global energy transition
• Ukraine's decentralised energy reconstruction
• Why grids are holding back progress
• De-risking investment in emerging markets
• Turning climate targets into action
• AI's potential to accelerate development

Leadership Circle:

Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Climate Imperative Foundation, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit cleaningup.live.

Links:

• Alexander De Croo’s bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderdecroo/ 
• Ana Rovzar’s bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-rovzar-2546b149/ 
• Achim Steiner on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2prrV1dPSUI 
• Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cleaninguppod.substack.com/ 
• Michael Liebreich’s Pragmatic Climate Reset:  https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-energy/liebreich-the-pragmatic-climate-reset-part-i/

Acronyms:

• UNDP: United Nations Development Programme
• UNGA: United Nations General Assembly
• UNEP: United Nations Environmental Programme
• ODA: Official Development Assistance
• SDG: Sustainable Development Goal
• OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 04:56 UNDP’s Mission
• 07:11 Rethinking Development
• 14:19 Energy Security
• 17:39 Grids and Resilience
• 25:52 From Ambition to Action
• 28:23 Financing the Transition
• 36:44 Development and Security
• 41:27 De-risking Investment
• 45:05 UN Funding
• 50:06 AI and Development
• 57:03 Outro