• CERAWEEK 2025 | March 10-14, 2025
  • CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Brad Crabtree

United States Department of Energy

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management

Mr. Brad Crabtree is the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), where he leads and directs FECM’s research and development programs and oversees the Office of Petroleum Reserves. Mr. Crabtree brings nearly three decades of experience in energy and climate policy to his role as Assistant Secretary.  Prior to coming to DOE, he  served as Vice President for Carbon Management at the Great Plains Institute (GPI), where he cofounded and directed the Carbon Capture Coalition, which works to advance carbon management technologies to meet climate goals, create high-wage jobs, and support domestic energy and industrial production. At GPI, Mr. Crabtree also helped launch the bipartisan State Carbon Capture Work Group to foster deployment of carbon capture and CO2 transport infrastructure, and he led GPI’s efforts to establish the Industrial Innovation Initiative aimed at decarbonizing key industries.  Additionally, he co-directed Powering the Plains, a project that crafted a comprehensive 50-year regional blueprint for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon capture. Mr. Crabtree previously coordinated energy policy advisory groups for the Midwestern Governors Association and facilitated the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord Advisory Group for six governors and the premier of Manitoba. He has also led multiple overseas delegations of U.S. policymakers and private sector leaders to examine other countries’ policies and experience in carbon management and renewable energy technology. A North Dakota native, Mr. Crabtree is a graduate of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and has an MA in history from Johns Hopkins University.

Sessions With Brad Crabtree

Tuesday, 19 March

  • 11:30am - 12:00pm (CST) / 19/mar/2024 04:30 pm - 19/mar/2024 05:00 pm

    Reflections on DOE and Global Policy Support for Carbon Management

    Reaching climate neutrality by 2050 will require carbon management at different levels. Both point source capture and carbon dioxide removal will be crucial to reduce and address legacy emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy’s carbon management portfolio includes three programs that will help to accelerate the demonstration and deployment of carbon management technologies. Europe just released the EU carbon management strategy and other regions are also taking steps to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture projects in different ways to have a global impact. How might these carbon capture demonstration projects enable capture costs to reduce? What are other regions doing to accelerate carbon management technologies? To what extent can learnings from these projects translate into further projects in the U.S. and globally? 

Wednesday, 20 March

  • 03:40pm - 04:10pm (CST) / 20/mar/2024 08:40 pm - 20/mar/2024 09:10 pm

    Symbiosis or Standoff: U.S.-China relations and climate action
    Climate & Sustainability

    As the world’s two largest economies and carbon emitters, the U.S.-China relationship holds significant implications for global efforts to combat climate change. What is the potential for symbiotic collaboration and what are the risks of standoff between these key players? How can shared climate goals foster cooperation in areas such as clean energy technology development, emissions reduction targets and international climate agreements? Join the conversation as we analyze the opportunities and challenges in U.S.-China climate relations and explore pathways for constructive engagement towards a sustainable future. We'll also discuss the geopolitical tensions and policy differences that may hinder effective collaboration. From trade disputes to political differences, understanding the complexities of US-China relations is crucial for advancing meaningful climate action on a global scale.

  • 05:00pm - 05:40pm (CST) / 20/mar/2024 10:00 pm - 20/mar/2024 10:40 pm

    COP28 Oil & Gas Decarbonization Commitments
    Climate & Sustainability

    COP28 elevated ambitions to tackle emissions from the oil and gas sector.  This included heightened national ambition to tackle methane, financing for low-income economies, and improving monitoring and measurement. COP28 also saw the introduction of the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter looking to accelerate action at the corporate level on methane, flaring, and scope 1 and 2 emissions. What is the significance of these commitments? What actions are being taken? What measures are being taken to improve monitoring and measurement?  

Thursday, 21 March

  • 11:55am - 12:45pm (CST) / 21/mar/2024 04:55 pm - 21/mar/2024 05:45 pm

    Forging Ahead: Critical minerals and the energy transition
    Mining, Minerals and Materials

    As the key components of batteries and electrification technologies, demand for copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and other critical minerals is expected to grow exponentially. The supply chains to bring these commodities to market face an array of trade, permitting and social, economic, and political challenges. Can governments and industry overcome these challenges and ensure security of supply of essential energy transition minerals? Is there the capacity to bring on new supplies in a timely way? Could supply deficits risk upending transition goals?