Ten Principles for the Rapid, Equitable, and Just Transition to Renewable Energy Systems

Introduction

We seek to effect a rapid, equitable, and just transition to 100% renewable energy systems. For us, this primarily means wind and solar energy, together with associated infrastructures, such as grids, batteries, and other storage facilities.

This transition needs to happen at a pace and scale consistent with and supports the goal of limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius and preventing climate catastrophe. To fulfill this goal, the transition must be completed globally by 2050 at the latest, with OECD countries achieving it much earlier. It also requires critical near-term actions, such as building more than 1,300 GW of new renewable energy capacity annually until 2030.

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1. Addressing Energy Poverty and Ensuring the Right to Universal, Gender-Just, Non-Racist, and Equitable Access to Sufficient Energy

Nearly 800 million people have no access to electricity, and many more have barely enough for basic needs.
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2. Promoting Efficient, Equitable, and Sufficient Energy Production, Distribution and Consumption

Even with the shift to renewable energy systems, the current pace of energy demand growth will still present a huge drain on the earth’s resources and risk harmful impacts on ecosystems.

3. Building Democratic, More Decentralized and Distributed Energy Systems

Democratic ownership, governance, planning, and management of energy systems foster transparency, accountability, and shared responsibility and promote equitable sharing of the benefits of renewable energy.

4. Upholding and Protecting Human Rights

Renewable energy systems – including technologies, designs, operations, and management structures – must be gender-just.

5. Ensuring Safety and Security

Domestic and regional labor law, labor agreements and the International Labor Organization’s standards must be followed.

6. Ensuring Democratic and Sustainable Governance, Management, and Use of Land, Water, Marine, and Other Natural Resources

The rapid transition to 100% renewable energy systems will involve an immense leap in demand for land, water, marine, and other natural resources.

7. Ensuring Sustainable and Equitable Extraction, Distribution, and Consumption of Transition Minerals

Renewable energy systems are far less extractivist than fossil fuel energy systems that require continuous extraction of fossil fuels.

8. Protecting Ecological Integrity and Biodiversity; Promoting Ecological Restoration and Regeneration

While renewable energy systems offer immense social, economic, environmental, and climate benefits, their deployment can still threaten ecosystems and biodiversity.

9. Mobilizing Adequate, Sustainable and Responsible Finance for Renewable Energy

Trillions of dollars are needed for the rapid, equitable, and just transition to 100% renewable energy systems.

10. Effectively Addressing Issues with Specific Renewable Energy Technologies and Modalities; Rejecting False Solutions

All renewable energy technologies have social and environmental risks and impacts.

We are inviting your organizations, networks, and institutions to endorse the TEN PRINCIPLES for a RAPID, EQUITABLE, and JUST TRANSITION to RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.

Register here to join the List of Endorsers

By aligning with the Ten Principles for a Rapid, Equitable, and Just Transition to Renewable Energy Systems, we can ensure that the rights of people and communities are at the center of the accelerated development of renewable energy systems.