Speaker 1: Prof Mark Swilling: "Unlocking a just energy transition for SA"

EE Publishers
18 May 201918:25

Summary

TLDRThe global renewable energy revolution is advancing, with investments in renewables outpacing those in fossil fuels and nuclear energy. This shift could lead to a just transition, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals' vision of eradicating poverty without damaging the planet. However, there's a risk of an unjust transition that maintains inequality. The renewable energy sector's potential for democratization and its impact on politics and economics are highlighted, with a focus on the importance of public and community-based investments in driving a just and sustainable energy future.

Takeaways

  • 🌏 The global renewable energy revolution is already underway, with annual investments in renewables exceeding those in fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined.
  • 🔄 A just transition implies moving towards a transformed world as outlined in the SDGs, focusing on eradicating poverty without compromising the planet's sustainability.
  • 🚫 The risk of an unjust transition exists, where the shift to a decarbonized world does not address or may even exacerbate existing inequalities and poverty.
  • ⚖️ The potential for a just transition lies in the directionality of the renewable energy revolution, which could steer the world towards energy democratization.
  • ⏳ Significant growth in renewable energy is evident, with solar being the fastest-growing sector and investments in renewables set to increase substantially by 2030.
  • 💡 The renewable energy sector's potential to drive a just transition is contingent on the alignment of public and private investments, community-based investments, and the right policy frameworks.
  • 🏭 China is a major player in renewable energy, with substantial investment and production, often licensing technology from German companies.
  • 📉 The decline in energy return on energy invested (EROI) for fossil fuels is a significant driver for the shift towards renewable energy, as the cost of extraction becomes less viable.
  • 🌐 The digitization of energy grids and the integration of renewable energy with new communication systems are essential for a decentralized and distributed renewable energy system.
  • 🏛️ The politics of renewable energy could lead to new forms of decentralized and participatory politics, contrasting with the centralized nature of fossil fuel industries.
  • 🌿 The directionality of the renewable energy revolution will be key in determining whether it leads to a just transition, with the potential for community-based and public ownership models.

Q & A

  • What is the current state of global investment in renewable energy compared to fossil fuels and nuclear energy?

    -The global investment in renewable energy is currently double the total investments in fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined.

  • What does a 'just transition' imply in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

    -A 'just transition' implies a transition to a transformed world as referred to in the preamble of the SDGs, which essentially means achieving SDG number one, the eradication of poverty without causing environmental damage.

  • What is the potential danger in the renewable energy transition as discussed in the script?

    -The potential danger is making an 'unjust transition', which is a transition to a decarbonized world that leaves inequality and poverty largely intact.

  • How does the renewable energy revolution have the potential to influence the direction of the transition to a transformed world?

    -The renewable energy revolution contains the potential for giving directionality to the transition to a transformed world envisioned in the SDGs, through energy democratization or energy democracy.

  • What are the three shifts that typically lead to major industrial transformations?

    -The three shifts that typically lead to major industrial transformations are the emergence of a new energy system, a new mobility system, and a new communication system.

  • How much of the total generated energy was provided by renewables in 2016, and what was the growth rate in 2017?

    -In 2016, renewables provided 26% of the total generated energy, and in 2017, renewables grew by 9% year-on-year.

  • Which country is a significant player in renewable energy investment, and how much has its investment grown?

    -China is a significant player in renewable energy investment, growing from about 2 billion in 2002 to 100 billion in 2014, and 265 billion in 2017.

  • What is the estimated total investment in renewables between 2014 and 2030 according to Bloomberg?

    -Bloomberg estimates that the total investment in renewables between 2014 and 2030 will be about 5.1 trillion.

  • What is the significance of the energy return on energy invested (EROI) in the context of the renewable energy revolution?

    -EROI is a metric that asks how much energy is needed to generate a unit of energy. It is significant because it reflects the decline in energy efficiency as we move from conventional to unconventional energy sources.

  • What are the implications of renewable energy infrastructures being decentralized and distributed?

    -The decentralization and distribution of renewable energy infrastructures imply potential for a new form of decentralized, community-based, participatory, and inclusionary politics, which could drive a just transition.

  • What role did cooperatives play in the early phases of the renewable energy revolution in Denmark and Germany?

    -In Denmark and Germany, cooperatives were the driving forces behind the wind and solar revolutions, respectively, with a significant number of households involved and a focus on open learning environments and rapid innovation.

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Related Tags
Renewable EnergyJust TransitionSustainable DevelopmentClimate ChangeEnergy InvestmentDecentralized PowerCommunity OwnershipGreen EconomyEnvironmental JusticeGlobal Transformation