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Lavinia Steinfort Project Coordinator

Our people — Staff member

Lavinia Steinfort is a political geographer and activist. As a researcher at the Transnational Institute (TNI) she is working on public alternatives such as (re)municipalisation of public services, a just transition towards energy democracy and transforming finance for the 99%.

Lavinia Steinfort

Lavinia is co-implementing the mPOWER project that facilitates peer learning among European cities for a fair, clean and democratic energy and is the coordinator of the energy democracy alliance, which includes a mailing list, the website www.energy-democracy.net and seasonal webinars. She co-edited The Future is Public: Towards Democratic Ownership of Public Services, Public Finance for the Future We Want and One Treaty to rule them all about the Energy Charter Treaty. Lavinia also published the article Communal Performativity – A Seed for Change on the solidarity of Thessaloniki’s social movements in the diverse fights against neoliberalism (Antipode, 2017).

Latest work

  • Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #6 Investment protection is necessary to encourage energy transition investment

    • Energy Democracy
    • Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)

    International investment treaties, are presented as necessary to encourage investments in renewable projects, which otherwise would be too risky for investors. However, treaties like the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), have become powerful weapons for fossil fuel corporations and investment funds, since they can sue governments at international tribunals to challenge policies that reduce their profits, or that could do so in the future. So far, the Treaty has been signed by 53 member states in Europe and Asia, and they are trying to expand into Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. This article debunks the myth and points out how such treaties are undermining governments' capacity to implement democratically agreed climate policies.

    Longread by
    • Lavinia Steinfort
    • James Angel

  • Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #5 Intellectual property rights help facilitate the energy transition

    Energy Democracy

    Intellectual Property (IP) rights are seen as central to speeding up innovation and encouraging investment. In the context of the energy transition, these laws are supposed to benefit private firms by increasing their capacity to profit from new low-carbon technologies, make the market more dynamic and accelerate the renewable transition. But  in reality, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, IP regimes have proven to hinder an equitable access to technologies, especially in low-income countries. Alternatives where a global and public approach is central should benefit equitable technology transfers, knowledge sharing instead of reinforcing existing and emerging monopolies.

    Longread by
    • Lavinia Steinfort
    • James Angel

  • Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #4 Decentralised energy will decarbonise and democratise the energy system

    Energy Democracy

    Localised, small-scale and community-led energy initiatives are often promoted as effective alternatives to decentralize and democratise the energy system. But, even though these projects play an important role in the energy transition, they are forced to compete in a for-profit energy market, limiting their impacts and real contribution towards the change. Here we debunk the fourth myth about energy transition.

    Longread by
    • Lavinia Steinfort
    • James Angel
See all work by Lavinia Steinfort

Key documents

  • The Future is Public Democratic Ownership of Public Services

    • Water Justice
    • Energy Democracy
    • Remunicipalisation
    Report

  • Public Finance for the Future We Want

    • Finance
    • Democratic Public Services
    • Just Transition
    • Public Community Collaborations
    Book by
    • Lavinia Steinfort
    • Mary Mellor
    • Stewart Lansley
    • Duncan McCann
    • Milford Bateman
    • Benny Kuruvilla
    • Thomas M. Hanna
    • Ana Álvaro
    • Agnes Gagyi
    • Frank Vanaerschot
    • Thomas Marois
    • Oscar Reyes
    • Ludovic Suttor-Sorel
    • Carla Santos Skandier

  • Reclaiming Public Services How cities and citizens are turning back privatisation

    • Water Justice
    • Democratic Public Services
    • Remunicipalisation
    Report by
    • Satoko Kishimoto
    • Olivier Petitjean
    • Lavinia Steinfort

Ideas into movement

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