US, UK agree on boosting energy security to lessen Russian reliance

• 

The United Kingdom and the United States have agreed on boosting energy security in addition to driving down prices as an extension of continuous attempts to downplay reliance on Russian energy in 2023 within the framework of the US-UK Energy Security and Affordability Partnership announced by the British and American leaders on Wednesday.

Sealed by Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak, the UK government noted, "The UK and US will work together to increase energy security and drive down prices, as part of an initiative announced by the Prime Minister and US President Biden today (December 7)." 

Read next: 48% of Scottish people cut down household spending due to energy costs

Washington and London will "drive work to reduce global dependence on Russian energy exports, stabilize energy markets and step up collaboration on energy efficiency, nuclear, and renewables.

"The group will work to ensure the market delivers sustained increases in the supply of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to UK terminals from the US and will collaborate on energy efficiency measures," the document said, adding that the US was set to export "at least 9-10 billion cubic meters of LNG" in 2023 via UK terminals."

In late November, a report published in The Economist revealed that the number of people that will die in Europe due to energy costs during this winter will be greater than the death toll of the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Read more: Europe takes China's side in new 'Cold War': The Telegraph

Three main factors will impact the mortality rates in Europe this winter according to the research: Temperatures, the flu season, and the cost of energy.

The research said the current cost of energy will likely lead to an extra 147,000 deaths if there is a typical winter.

The report expected an average of around 147,000 deaths in the countries in case of a typical winter season, about 79,000 if the temperature was a bit warmer and 185,000 deaths in the event that the temperature is equivalent to that of the coldest season each country had in the past two decades.

The Economist's statistics reveal that, of the total 49% mortality rate of people who are 80 and above in the EU, 28% of them die during the coldest months of winter.

Italy is predicted to have the most deaths, owing to a nearly 200% rise in electricity costs since 2020 and a big aging population.