For the first time since Donald Trump returned to the White House, global oil leaders are set to gather in Houston, Texas, between March 10–14, 2025 for the annual CERAWeek conference.
This highly anticipated event organized by S&P Global will bring together ministers from OPEC member states, chief executives of the world’s largest oil companies—like Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips—as well as key policymakers to discuss the future of the global energy landscape.
The conference takes place amid mounting global energy uncertainty and shifting market dynamics.
Trump’s administration has already signaled a renewed commitment to American energy independence, focusing on boosting domestic oil and gas production while easing regulatory constraints.
One of the key topics on the agenda will be the plummeting oil prices, which have forced major oil companies to cut thousands of jobs even as a pro-fossil fuel U.S. administration encourages increased production.
Trump’s policies on trade and foreign relations also threaten to drive up the cost of millions of barrels of oil that U.S. refiners import from Canada and Mexico.
Also, his evolving stance on Russia could lead to increased Russian oil exports. If the U.S. eases sanctions on Russian energy in the case of a deal to end the war in Ukraine, this could lead to an oversupply, crashing oil prices and reducing the European market for U.S. oil and gas.
Industry insiders and international stakeholders are eager to understand how these policies will reshape the balance of power in the global oil sector.
The return of Trump’s America-first energy agenda and his signing of a series of executive orders on energy have raised questions about the impact on global oil prices and production agreements.
The previous production cuts coordinated by OPEC and non-OPEC countries, including Russia, played a critical role in stabilizing prices, but increased U.S. shale production could once again disrupt those efforts.
In addition to oil production strategies, the conference is expected to address the growing global push for cleaner energy.
While the U.S. administration’s support for fossil fuels remains strong, pressure from environmental groups and international climate commitments will likely influence discussions.
However, not all reactions to the conference are positive.
Some local communities and environmental groups have expressed concerns about the event’s focus on fossil fuels and the environmental implications of current energy policies.
For instance, the environmental group Earthworks plans to confront oil company leaders at the event.
A statement on the group’s website calls on clergy, youth, and community leaders—some of whom have been barred from attending CERAWeek itself—to join a march to Root Square Park in downtown Houston, about a 10-minute walk from the CERAWeek venue, to demand stronger environmental protections.
The group argues that for too long, these companies have treated Gulf South communities—and low-income communities and communities of color worldwide—like “sacrifice zones.”
They claim these firms pollute the air and water, increasing the risk of serious health conditions like asthma and cancer while fueling the climate crisis’s devastating hurricanes, fires, and floods.
The 2025 edition of CERAWeek, often dubbed the “Super Bowl of energy events,” presents an opportunity to learn how the energy industry plans to navigate this complex environment.
It offers guidance on policy shifts, investment opportunities, and market strategies.
