Fossil Fuel Transition

Moving from high-carbon fossil fuels to carbon neutral energy sources is central to achieving security and prosperity for an interdependent world.

Fossil Fuel Transition

 

 

Fossil fuels remain the dominant energy source for most countries in the world, despite the increasingly competitive economics and huge health benefits of renewable energy alternatives. Shifting away from coal, oil and gas to prevent runaway climate change and reduce pollution means challenging incumbencies and enabling a just transition for workers and communities.

We provide research, analysis, and convening to support policy makers,  diplomatic  actors, and civil society networks in their efforts to accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels.

Around  the world, decision makers are grappling with the transition away from fossil fuels. We work with networks of progressive diplomatic actors, supporting them to share experiences and identify solutions that can catalyse change at the scale and speed required.

Track record

  1. Our analysis and convening supported the creation of the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), a groundbreaking coalition of countries, subnationals and private sector actors committed to ending unabated coal power generation.
  2. We worked with policy makers in the UK and EU to develop packages of public finance and regulation that required ‘no new coal without CCS’, calling the bluff of coal sector actors who were hiding behind Carbon Capture and Storage.
  3. Our award-winning wargaming project with the Sustainable Finance Programme at the University of Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment revealed new insights on the strategies and tactics that Oil Majors might follow when under pressure to align their business models with 2°C pathways.

Focus areas

Carbon Capture and Storage

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a category of applications that could provide a critical tool for tackling emissions from industrial sources where there are currently few alternatives.

We work across the politics and policies of CCS, highlighting how it can be a disruptor of business as usual approaches and an enabler of deep decarbonisation. We engage proactively to identify how CCS can contribute to reducing emissions while ensuring its development fits within the ultimate aim of delivering climate neutrality.

Domien Vangenechten

Programme Lead

Mihnea Cătuți

Senior Associate

Simon Skillings

Senior Associate

Coal

Coal is the highest emitting and polluting fossil fuel. Coal use must decline first and fastest to prevent runaway climate change. This requires a rapid phase out of coal use in power generation plus reductions in coal use in industrial processes.

We cooperate with civil society partners around the world to provide analysis, advice, and insight to decision makers and diplomats who are seeking to reduce coal use and accelerate clean alternatives.

Genady Kondarev

Senior Associate

Hanna Hakko

Senior Associate

Jesse Burton

Senior Associate

Katrine Tilgaard Petersen

Senior Policy Advisor

Kavya Singhal

Programme Associate

Leo Roberts

Programme Lead

Madhura Joshi

Senior Associate

Oyku Senlen

Senior Researcher

Pieter de Pous

Programme Lead

Rino Sugioka

Policy Advisor

Samora Levy

Senior Policy Advisor

Sasha Kinney

Senior Associate

Sean Rai-Roche

Policy Advisor

Simon Skillings

Senior Associate

Ujunwa Ojemeni

Senior Policy Advisor

Yoko Mulholland

Senior Associate

Ysanne Choksey

Policy Advisor

Gas

Gas is the fastest growing fossil fuel. The transition to a net-zero emissions world is complex, with gas playing an important role in electricity, heating and industry.

We focus on untangling national and international political economy challenges around gas by exploring energy system change, security, financial risk and non-fossil development pathways.

Genady Kondarev

Senior Associate

Maria Pastukhova

Programme Lead

Raphael Hanoteaux

Senior Policy Advisor

Simon Skillings

Senior Associate

Just Transition

Limiting global heating to 1.5°C – 2°C degrees requires rapid and deep decarbonisation of the global economy.

The necessary transformation provides a large opportunity for a green economy, but also comes with significant social and economic challenges for affected communities. It is essential therefore to ensure that any transition is just and equitable.

Genady Kondarev

Senior Associate

Pieter de Pous

Programme Lead

Sasha Kinney

Senior Associate

Oil

Oil currently plays a central role in many parts of the global economy, from transport to plastics, yet its use must significantly be reduced over the coming decades if we are to reach decarbonisation goals.

Disentangling the economy from oil is pivotal to achieving a 1.5°C – 2°C world.

Simon Skillings

Senior Associate

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