Heatwaves, Russian oil, and North Sea drilling: a sharp energy-policy preview
This preview is based on the episode’s published show notes, not the full audio. Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell’s Question Time edition features EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen on net zero, energy security, Russian oil dependence, and whether North Sea drilling is pragmatic or reckless.
This is a preview based only on the published show notes, so think of it as a guide to what the episode promises rather than a recap of what’s said. The episode appears to tackle a timely cluster of energy and climate questions: whether repeated heatwaves are changing the urgency around net zero, how vulnerable the UK and Europe might be to a potential energy shock linked to the Iran war, and why Europe became so reliant on Russian oil in the first place. If you’re looking for a conversation that connects geopolitics, climate pressure, and day-to-day energy security, this sounds like a strong fit. A major draw here is the guest: European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen. Based on the notes, listeners can expect a policy-focused discussion rather than a narrow domestic political argument, with a European perspective on supply, resilience, and the trade-offs involved in decarbonisation. The North Sea drilling question seems likely to be one of the episode’s central tensions. The framing in the notes sets up a real debate: is more oil and gas extraction a matter of national security, or is it an environmentally reckless illusion? That should make this especially relevant for listeners who want to hear how political leaders frame the balance between immediate energy needs and long-term climate goals. If you follow energy policy, European politics, or the practical challenges behind net zero, this episode looks designed to bring those threads together in one place.
About this episode
With the UK and Europe sweltering in yet another record-breaking heatwave, will we ever actually reach net zero? How close are we to a “lights out” scenario due to the Iran war, and how did we become so dependent on Russian oil? Is North Sea drilling for oil and gas a matter of national security, or an environmentally reckless fantasy? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time, with the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen. __________ Enjoy Rory and Alastair’s interview with Steve Rosenberg by searching ‘Leading’ on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅ __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith, Bruno Di Castri Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices