On Wednesday 2nd April, the Climate Action Coalition’s Global Clean Power Taskforce convened for its first thematic roundtable on the phase out of fossil fuels.
Members were joined by Lord Nick Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment; Tzeporah Berman, Founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative; Binnu Jeyakumar, Senior Advisor at the Powering Past Coal Alliance; and Carolina Gómez, Senior Advisor at the Sustainability, Environment and Territory Unit in the Chilean Ministry of Energy.
The session highlighted the growth story presented by clean energy, and how fossil fuel expansion and dependence delays and hinders this opportunity. Redefining energy security around clean energy is critical, and will also render significant benefits including decreased vulnerability to extreme weather, reduced adaptation costs, lower public health costs and reduced military conflict.
At the same time, a managed phase out of fossil fuels is critical to protect economies, allowing for economic diversification, as well as protecting workers and communities. This will require holistic planning around energy demand, ensuring grid stability and alternative baseload solutions. Nationally Determined Contributions are a key tool to support fossil fuel phase out, with no new coal commitments alongside renewables and storage commitments creating a clearer case for investment. Finally, a just transition requires government-led, inclusive planning with workers, businesses, and communities to mitigate economic downturns in fossil fuel-dependent regions.
Further reading:
- Raising ambition and accelerating delivery of climate finance
- Urgent action to address energy access, debt and finance for renewable energy in the Caribbean region: Can a new generation of debt-for-renewables swaps help?
- Transitioning away from fossil fuels to curb air pollution health harms
- Stop fossil fuels from fuelling conflict
- Renewable Energy Statistics 2025
- Accelerating coal-to-clean energy transitions
- Progress achieved in the retirement of coal facilities in Chile and the definition of a Just Energy Transition Strategy
