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Energy Transition Mythbusters Unpacking the 6 policy myths that threaten decarbonisation
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In the face of the ever-worsening climate crisis, this report aims to challenge the six harmful but influential energy transition myths. Together, these myths aim to persuade us that the private sector, free markets, cheaper prices and decentralisation can decarbonise the energy system — and that intellectual property rights and trade and investment protection agreements are necessary to facilitate this. These myths keep policy-makers, social movements and communities from defending, building and advocating for real solutions: public power systems that can democratically decarbonise society.
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This report demonstrates that reducing energy demand and switching the entire electricity infrastructure to renewables is not a profitable endeavour. Rather, it entails costly and comprehensive change that will not succeed without public planning, public finance and public ownership. The transition requires governments to be well equipped and held accountable by a myriad of social movements and populations at large to implement policies in the public interest. Instead of leaving the energy system to the market and corporations, governments should ensure that energy workers and users can participate at every level of the sector to ensure that just, democratic and sustainable public energy systems are built.
We hope these mythbusters contribute to an increasingly powerful and interconnected labour and environmental justice movement that, collectively, can force governments to dismantle the for-profit market model and realise energy transitions by and for the public.
Finally, this publication is part of an open political process in which trade unions, scholar activists and frontline communities have developed an Energy Democracy Movement Declaration. This seeks to work towards taking energy back from the market and moving towards public ownership and democratic management, with popular participation, human rights and equality at its heart.
Mythbusters
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Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #1 The private sector is driving a rapid renewable energy transition
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Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #2 Free markets are the best route towards a low-carbon energy system
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Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #3 The falling price of renewable energy makes decarbonisation inevitable
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Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #4 Decentralised energy will decarbonise and democratise the energy system
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Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #5 Intellectual property rights help facilitate the energy transition
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Energy Transition Mythbusters: Myth #6 Investment protection is necessary to encourage energy transition investment
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Support the Energy Democracy Movement Declaration
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Join the global movement to reclaim our energy systems!
Together we stand for:
Energy as a human right
Energy under public ownership
Against green colonialism
From profiteering to good living
Reducing energy consumption and energy sufficiency for all
Funding globally just Energy Transitions
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In collaboration with
CONTRIBUTORS Wouter van de Klippe, Lucia Barcena, Sean Sweeney, Rowan Mataram, Pietje Vervest, Rachmi Hertanti, Niels Jongerius, Juliana Rodrigues de Senna, Sol Trumbo Vila and Brid Brennan
PUBLISHERS Transnational Institute and Trade Unions for Energy Democracy
PROOF READER Sarah Finch
DESIGNER Ivan Klisurić / ivanklis.studio
ILLUSTRATOR FACTSHEETS: Fourate Chahal El Rekaby
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