New global commission headed by Danish Prime Minister will focus on putting people at the heart of energy transitions
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark will head a new high-level global commission that will examine ways to ensure people are at the centre of clean energy transitions around the world.
The commission’s members will include Prime Minister Mark Phillips of Guyana; Teresa Ribera, Vice President and Minister for the Ecological Transition of Spain; Seamus O'Regan, Minister of Natural Resources of Canada; Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia; Rocío Nahle García, Secretary of Energy of Mexico; and Sophie Gladima, Minister of Petroleum and Energy of Senegal. The full list of members to date is available below. The commission will provide key recommendations based on its work ahead of COP26 in November.
As countries seek to advance their shifts to clean energy technologies, the success of these efforts will rest on enabling citizens to benefit from the opportunities and navigate the disruptions. This includes social and economic impacts on individuals and communities, as well as issues of affordability and fairness.
The new commission will explore these questions in depth, taking into account the need to see people as active participants in clean energy transitions – in collective decision-making and through individual actions and behaviours. Equity and inclusion issues will also be examined, including gender equality.
“Clean energy transitions are gaining significant momentum around the world, and it is essential to their success that they be inclusive and centred around people,” said Dr Birol. “Many countries are now focusing on this issue and seeking opportunities to exchange ideas and advice. The high-level members of our Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions will lead a global dialogue to share experiences and enhance best practice.”
“Denmark has already shown clear global leadership on this issue, and that is why I am delighted and honoured that Prime Minister Frederiksen has agreed to be the Honorary Patron of the Commission and that Minister Jørgensen has agreed to chair it,” Dr Birol added.
“I am very pleased to see that the IEA, under the leadership of Dr Fatih Birol, has been strengthening its focus on green energy transition and now on just transition. Therefore, I am proud to lead the work in this new global commission and thereby help to ensure a just transition to more renewable energy around the world. International collaboration as well as social fairness is at the heart of the Danish government,” said Mr Jørgensen.
“This new commission is an important contribution to secure an inclusive global energy system and putting people at the heart of clean energy transitions. We have to act now to fight the climate changes, but we will only succeed if we are able to inspire and include people in a socially balanced way,” Mr Jørgensen added.
Additional members of the commission are expected to be announced soon.
Honorary Patron
Mette FREDERIKSEN, Prime Minister, Denmark
Chair
Dan JØRGENSEN, Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark
Members
Mohammed bin Hamad AL RUMHI, Minister of Oil and Gas, Oman
Tina BRU, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Norway
Sharan BURROW, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
Sergio COSTA, Minister of the Environment, Territorial Planning and Marine Protection, Italy
Sophie GLADIMA, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Senegal
Juan Carlos JOBET, Minister of Energy, Chile
Diego MESA PUYO, Minister of Mines and Energy, Colombia
Rocío NAHLE GARCÍA, Secretary of Energy, Mexico
Damilola OGUNBIYI, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy
Seamus O'REGAN, Minister of Natural Resources, Canada
Muriel PÉNICAUD, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the OECD, and Former Minister of Labour
Mark PHILLIPS, Prime Minister, Guyana
Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Fourth Vice President of the Government, Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Spain
Arifin TASRIF, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia
Tinne VAN DER STRAETEN, Minister of Energy, Belgium
Our Inclusive Energy Future: The Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions