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CERAWeek is an annual energy conference organized by the information and insights company S&P Global in Houston, Texas. The conference provides a platform for discussion on a range of energy-related topics; CERAWeek 2019 featured sessions on the world economic outlook, geopolitics, energy policy and regulation, climate change and technological innovation, among other topics. The conference features prominent speakers from energy, policy, technology, and financial industries, and is chaired by Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Yergin, vice-chairman, IHS Markit and Jamey Rosenfield, vice chair, CERAWeek, senior vice president, IHS Markit. Both are co-founders of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. [1]
The 39th annual CERAWeek conference, scheduled for March 9 to 13, 2020, in Houston, Texas, was canceled. [2]
CERAWeek attracts executives, government officials and thought leaders from the energy, policy, technology, and financial industries to Houston each year. [3] In 2019, there were over 5,500 delegates from over 1,000 organizations representing 85 countries. [4] These include over 650 CEOs and Chairmen, over 1,400 C-Suite executives and over 90 ministers and government representatives. Participants encompass all regions and industry segments: oil, natural gas, electric power, coal, nuclear and renewables; as well as technology, finance, mobility and more.
Recent Speakers at CERAWeek have included:
Each year at CERAWeek, the Energy Innovation Pioneer program recognizes companies and entrepreneurs whose technologies and business plans have the potential to transform the energy industry's future. Companies are selected based on several criteria, including the feasibility of their plan and scalability of their technology, and are presented at an Energy Insight Breakfast session during the conference. In 2019, CERAWeek recognized 8 pioneers. In 2014, CERAWeek recognized 24 pioneers. [5]
CERAWeek has been widely covered by the media, including the following news outlets: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, and Forbes. [6]
CERAWeek's list of controversial speakers has drawn protests over accusations of greenwashing [7] [8] and environmental injustice. [9]
Despite the conference's front-page claim to " advance new ideas, insight, and solutions to the biggest challenges facing the future of energy, the environment, and climate," CERAWeek's 2025 speakers list [10] includes many oil & gas CEOs embroiled in controversy.
Executives from every defendant in People of the State of California v. Big Oil [11] will speak at CERAWeek 2025. The case accuses the oil & gas industry of intentionally misleading the public about the dangers of pollution to maintain industry profits. [12] Speakers at CERAWeek with a connection to this case include:
The CERAWeek 2025 speakers list includes 5 CEOS who became the focus of a bicameral Congressional probe [13] after attending a meeting at Mar-a-Lago where Trump reportedly proposed a $1 billion quid pro quo deal in which he'd pass regulatory and tax measures benefiting the oil and gas industry. [14]
None of the CEOs targeted by the Congressional probe cooperated with the investigation. [15]
Seven CERAWeek speakers are CEOS whose corporations collectively generated over 11% of global CO2 emissions from 2016-2022. [16]
CERAWeek speaker and Pioneer Natural Resources CEO Scott Sheffield fell under FTC investigation, where his text messages revealed collusion with OPEC officials to artificially inflate gas prices. [17]
'A major oil and gas industry conference that brings thousands of international visitors to Houston every March has been canceled amid elevated fears related to the growing number of coronavirus cases around the world. / / CERAWeek by IHS Markit organizers canceled the event Sunday with "deep disappointment."'