Globally, 72% of consumers are in favor of a quick transition away from fossil fuels to protect people and the planet. But just energy transitions won’t happen without a thoughtful and strategic global approach. In fact, without one, global energy transitions could lead to economic disaster and conflict. That’s because phasing down the production of fossil fuel has implications for both importing and producing countries. Importer countries must have a plan for how to transition to other fuel sources, while producer and exporter countries must plan for economic diversification as demand slows — and the timeline for both has to link up to maintain trust between countries and limit environmental and social harm.
Sound complicated? It is.
That is why Salzburg Global hosted a policy dialogue with leaders in the field earlier this summer to discuss national cooperative strategies. The event, entitled “Policy Dialogue on Just Energy 2.0: Pathways to Prosperity Post Fossil Fuels,” was the second in a series bringing together policymakers and researchers from nearly a dozen countries as well as representatives from international organizations, civil society and the private sector.
Windward Fund’s staff and staff from some of its projects, including Manjyot Ahluwalia from Global Methane Hub Asia and Jennifer Somers from Collectrify, participated in the event. Windward also invited Ellie Johnston from Climate Interactive, a long-standing project of the New Venture Fund. The seminar proved to be a valuable opportunity to discuss actionable, innovative policy frameworks and potential solutions for an energy transition grounded in equity.
Quotes from participants:
“The design and structure of ‘2025 Salzburg Global Policy Dialogue on Just Energy Transitions’ provided me the opportunity to bring attention to the critical role methane mitigation can play to address the climate crisis within our lifetimes while delivering co-benefits of enhanced livelihoods, energy security and public health to vulnerable communities … The group work — as part of the Dialogue — sparked innovative ideas such as creating a collaborative governance framework to help importer and exporter countries better manage and prepare for this transition. I am excited to bring these ideas back to the Global Methane Hub to increase our collective impact and effectiveness to mitigate methane across the oil and gas value chain."
Regional Lead Asia, Global Methane Hub
“Participating in the ‘Policy Dialogue for Just Energy Transitions: Pathways to Prosperity Post Fossil Fuels’ (PPFF) was such a gift … I am honored to have been a part of this group of fellows working to put together frameworks, tools and resources to address the complexity of the issues and the challenges as both developed and developing economies make the transition and demand continues to decline. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with partner Salzburg Global fellows as we create resource documents to inform systemic challenges and shift the current dominant paradigms.”
Executive Director, Collectrify
“It was powerful to gather with people grappling with the realities of a just energy transition in oil-producing countries and beyond. I could see that, while the challenges are enormous, real and meaningful progress is underway.”
Director of Programs, Climate Interactive
For me as the President of the Windward Fund, the seminar was a reminder once again of this community’s expertise, knowledge and passion and the great resources we hold to meaningfully address climate change and other environmental challenges. Windward will continue to identify opportunities like these for our projects to engage in discussion so we can figure out how to finance this work and really make it happen. Stay tuned …
