We urge all governments to translate the global commitment to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030 into international, regional, and national policies and programs guided by principles that will ensure that the process and outcomes are rapid, equitable, and just.
We strongly reiterate the vital principles that must be upheld in addressing the core action agendas of the Summit.
Guiding Principles 4 Finance:
For the transition to be rapid, equitable, and just – governments must lead. It cannot be left primarily to the private sector and the market. Public finance is crucial for governments to fulfill their leadership role. One of the greatest challenges to achieving this transition is mobilizing finance at the scale, speed, and quality necessary.
- The Global North must deliver on its climate finance obligations for the Global South to reach its RE targets. Adequate climate finance, in the form of new, additional, predictable, and non-debt-creating public grants, is a prerequisite to achieving the 3x RE goals.
- Public financing for the fossil fuel industry must be redirected to building renewable energy systems.
- The net transfer of financial resources from the South to the North should be stopped. Towards this, there should be major fiscal reforms to stop tax abuses by multinational corporations and end illicit financial flows and unsustainable and illegitimate debt should be cancelled.
Guiding Principles 4 Supply Chains:
The extraction and consumption of transition minerals must be managed within the framework of a circular economy and uphold human rights.
- International and national policies, regulatory systems, and accountability measures on the supply chain of transition minerals must be instituted with robust standards and safeguards on governance, social and environmental impacts, finance and fiduciary accountability, and the protection of human rights, including labor, gender and Indigenous peoples’ rights.
- There should be solid policies and programs to rein in demand, minimize waste, avoid depletion, maximize resource efficiency, and prioritize resource conservation and recovery.
- Public and private institutions must implement due diligence processes to assess and reduce risks and harms along the supply chain, from mining to manufacturing and waste management/recycling. These institutions should also engage with suppliers to promote responsible sourcing practices.
Guiding Principles 4 Permits:
Reducing the time and cost constraints of renewable energy projects are critical steps to take on to achieve the 3x goal by 2030.
- Permitting requirements should be more straightforward and simpler but at the same time, compliant with robust regulatory systems.
- Primacy should be given to projects aimed at ensuring universal access to affordable energy and the expansion of redistributed and decentralized energy systems.
Guiding Principles 4 Grids:
To ensure the effective integration of variable renewable energy such as solar and wind and strengthen the democratic management of energy systems – grids must:
- Be flexible – with the ability to adapt to changes in demand and supply. There should be financing and technology support for grid flexibility requirements such as battery and storage,
- Use “smart grid” technologies to better match the supply and demand of electricity in real-time while minimizing costs and maintaining the stability and reliability of the grid. Data and technology for smart grid systems should be made available.
- Accommodate more distributed and decentralized energy production. Distributed and decentralized energy production is more appropriate for ensuring universal access, democratic management of energy sources, and prioritizing the needs of local communities. There should be policy and financial support for the development of interconnected microgrids.
Immediate and near term actions rooted in these principles are vital to ensure a rapid, equitable, and just transition to democratic, 100% renewable energy systems.
Signed:
Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development
An alliance of peoples’ organizations and grassroots movements with member and partner organizations based in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea, and China