The energy transition can be fair, just and inclusive – but the window of opportunity is closing fast

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Conversation or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A team of 22 international authors has recently published a paper discussing the socio-economic implications of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables, emphasizing the concept of net energy
• The paper highlights the energy investments needed for building, operating, and maintaining a low-carbon energy system, which reduces the net energy available to society

🔭 The context: Net energy is defined as the energy supplied to society after subtracting the energy invested in extracting, processing, and delivering it
• The study predicts a decline in net energy as the world shifts to renewable energy sources and fossil fuel supplies deplete, necessitating more energy for their extraction

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The transition to renewable energy and the consequent reduction in net energy have significant implications for global equity, especially impacting developing countries
• The study calls for a just transition that prioritizes people and communities worldwide, addressing the risks of exacerbating competition for energy and material resources

⏭️ What's next: The paper proposes three actions to enhance the justice of the energy transition: massive financial support and technology transfers to developing countries, a shift towards more efficient energy use, and the cessation of unnecessary energy uses
• It emphasizes the urgency of acting swiftly to prevent the window of opportunity for an inclusive global transition from closing.

💬 One quote: "A decent quality of life can be sustained with much lower levels of energy use than currently observed in affluent nations."

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