World Energy Council urges change to energy transition approach

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🗞️ Driving the news: The World Energy Council, led by Dr. Angela Wilkinson, is calling for a fundamental shift in how the global energy transition is approached, as current strategies to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 are failing
• Many OECD countries are facing delays and setbacks, particularly in sectors like electric vehicles and offshore wind, due to market forces and resource limitations

🔭 The context: The energy transition is more complex than simply replacing fossil fuels with renewables
• Wilkinson argues that a lack of "systems thinking"—considering how all aspects of society and infrastructure need to change together—is hindering progress
• She emphasizes that energy transitions require comprehensive planning, not just technological swaps

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Achieving net zero emissions is crucial for mitigating climate change
• However, without a more holistic and integrated approach, the current disjointed efforts may lead to further delays, increased costs, and compromised energy security, threatening the global climate goals

⏭️ What's next: The World Energy Council advocates for a "systems thinking" approach to the energy transition, involving more comprehensive planning and coordination across all sectors
This shift in strategy is necessary to make the energy transition more sustainable and effective

💬 One quote: “Energy transitions are a change in the organization of society... It’s not a simple case of swapping out one technology for another and everything else stays the same,” said Dr. Angela Wilkinson

📈 One stat: The World Bank invested $497 million in South Africa to transition from coal, but the effort has not succeeded, highlighting the complexities of energy transitions

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