Humanising energy transitions

It can seem that all the necessary actions to drive energy transitions require large-scale resources and large-scale business or political power. However, collectively, we can also have considerable power as individuals, as outlined in this article. There is actually much influence we can exert through our personal actions.  This is one of the perspectives that the World Energy Council encourages by promoting the theme of “Humanising Energy”.  

In this short article, 5 individual roles are highlighted that most of us can play to promote constructive energy transitions.  

1. Lifelong Learner:
   Energy transitions are not straightforward, but neither is there a need for so-called “rocket science”. You do, however, need to see beyond simple slogans to understand a little about how environmental, economic, or organisational systems work. People need to invest some degree of effort in learning what changes are likely to be helpful or detrimental, or what has significant versus minor influence. We can all commit to this learning journey to improve our understanding and, hence, make our other actions more effective.

2. Citizen:
   In the types of societies where many of us live, we are able to exercise political influence through our voting behaviour and through various forms of protest or activism. We can shape political action through individual voting or through participating in citizens’ movements like Extinction Rebellion or WWF. Political action shapes policy, legislation, and regulation, and well-informed citizens can apply pressure for constructive and effective changes. It is really valuable to know, understand, and shape the policy platforms relevant to energy transitions of competing political parties. Informed citizens can do this.

3. Consumer:
   Our consumption choices can not only have a direct impact on our personal emissions but can also give indirect evidence of our preferences to businesses.  If enough people indicate a preference for goods or services with a low-emissions footprint - even forming a “consumer movement” that demands them - then providers will look to benefit from serving and growing that market segment. The opportunities are substantial because the additional costs associated with low-emission products are generally very affordable, usually adding just a couple of percent of the final price. Unfortunately, this is poorly appreciated by the general public, who are regularly immersed in tales of the high costs of decarbonising activities and do not appreciate how much these costs are diluted as materials pass down value-adding supply chains until being formed into end-use products. The challenge is that the substantial investments required to reduce emissions are generally needed far upstream in the supply chains that eventually deliver those final goods and services to us. This investment could be financially motivated, however, by demand from premium consumer markets in goods like fashion, electronics, automotives, and food, and by rigorous regulatory standards for their emissions footprints. Consumer movements and citizen movements can, together, drive these changes in business investment and standards.

4. Professional:
   Many of us have a professional life of some kind.  Many of us will sit somewhere in the 8 extended business chains that account for over 50% of emissions - fashion, food, electronics, personal care, and similar fast-moving consumer goods, automotives, construction, professional services, and additional freight outside these business chains. Some of us will sit in organisations that serve the activities involved in these long business chains, or use their goods and services, or regulate them in some way.  If we understand the systemic changes required to accelerate energy transitions, we can help reach out beyond our own activities to build the kinds of alignments that can accelerate energy transitions through smart business, smart policy, and smart politics.

5. Community member:
   We live in multiple communities – families, work, leisure, local, online. If we understand the effective changes in behaviour that will help other people also accelerate energy transitions, we can take the time to introduce this understanding to our communities. We can be teachers, nurturers, or encouragers in our communities who help others also fulfil their different energy transition roles effectively. We can be more active community members in ways that enrich the community, bring personal satisfaction, and ultimately benefit everybody.

illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.