Changing climate policy to reflect the needs and interests of the energy-poor.
Poor countries need a lot more energy to develop. But global climate policies often ignore this reality or resort to unrealistic goals set up to fail. We need a more balanced, nuanced approach tailored to local priorities and realities.
While 750 million people lack any electricity, at least 3 billion more suffer from unreliable power. This strangles job creation and economic growth. Because energy is needed for cooling, desalination, and production of cement and steel, energy poverty undermines climate resilience too. In energy-poor countries, ‘climate justice’ is less about reducing local emissions than delivering adequate affordable energy to everyone.
To advance global energy abundance, the Hub proposes pragmatic, evidence-based solutions that prioritize local objectives.
The Hub shares perspectives and analysis from around the world on what ‘justice’ in the energy transition means — and how we can ensure that emerging and frontier economies have the agency, flexibility, and tools they need. See more work on just transitions here.
Adaptation to a warmer world will be energy-intensive, requiring massive investments in resilient infrastructure, cooling systems, climate-smart agriculture technologies, and emergency power. The Hub builds the evidence base for why energy is critical to climate adaptation. We advance technology, finance, and policy solutions to make sure energy funding and resources get to the countries that need it most. See our insights on resilience here.
Too much modeling and energy planning is done by external consultants, which undermines its credibility and relevance. The Hub supports energy modelers and decision-makers from Africa and other regions to ensure that energy systems planning and transition analysis is led by locals, incorporates the best data available, and addresses more than emissions reductions. We helped design the African Energy Futures Initiative, launched by the African Climate Foundation in 2024. See our work
Advancing inclusive and equitable energy transitions is one of this century’s most vital global challenges, and one in…
