How AI demands and Middle East conflict are reshaping the global energy mix

In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, S&P Global Energy President Dave Ernsberger joins host Lindsey Hall to discuss how data centers, geopolitical risk and sustainability priorities are changing the global energy mix in 2026.

As war in the Middle East continues, Dave explains how countries are rethinking the balance between immediate priorities — like energy security, availability and affordability — and the reality of climate change risk. In this context, Dave calls for a reframing of sustainability conversations.

"The sustainability discussion will become irrelevant if it doesn't speak to the needs of the half of the world's population that needs energy in the first place," Dave says. "The leaders who are driving a conversation that is predicated on a statement like 'phase out fossil fuels' need to switch the conversation up and say: 'How do we maximize investment in clean fuels?'"

Dave says investment decisions are already evolving at speed in response to continued geopolitical conflict. "I was amazed at how fast infrastructure was getting built out to maximize self-sufficiency, minimize import dependency," Dave says of a recent visit he made to the Middle East. "People aren't waiting."

Dave also points to surging power demand tied to AI as a key factor reshaping global energy markets. He says S&P Global's newly announced acquisition of datacenterHawk will help fill information gaps about data center infrastructure, from the hardware inside each facility to who the investors are to how much debt is involved.

"The questions that confront AI are big. The answers are highly specific and very detailed, and that's what we're driving towards with this investment," he tells us.

Further reading:

S&P Global's Top 10 Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2026 | S&P Global

For the world's largest companies, climate physical risks have a $1.2 trillion annual price tag by the 2050s | S&P Global

S&P Global to Acquire datacenterHawk Connecting Global Data Center, Power and Infrastructure Markets - S&P Global

Further listening:

The big blind spot software giant SAP sees in AI strategies | S&P Global

What planetary health means for the private sector | S&P Global

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