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policy energy

actors in specific
country contexts.
Steps must also be
taken to coordinate
the principles and
practices of financial
actors across all
countries. COP25 in
Madrid could serve
as a stepping stone to
consistent strategies,
which will be crucial for
developing countries
as they update their
NDCs in 2020 and for
efforts to close the
ambition gap.
The authors’ three
recommendations:
Policy debates on
‘just transitions’ focus Technical options to increase system flexibility
on the implications
of phasing out fossil Decarbonisation of the energy sector preventive solutions. Experience shows
fuels from national energy mixes. Yet requires urgent action on a global that failing to successfully carry out
there are distributional effects of a scale, and while a global energy planning activities could result in a slower
global energy transition especially for transition is underway, further action expansion of Variable Renewable Energy
developing countries that lack financial is needed to reduce carbon emissions (VRE), a need to invest in expensive
and technological means to transition, and mitigate the effects of climate retrofitting of network assets, a lower
creating structural risks. Acknowledging change. Renewable energy and energy reliability of the power system or a need
this global dimension of just transitions at efficiency measures can potentially to curtail VRE production, among others.
the UNFCCC may help to create alliances achieve 90% of the required carbon Long-term planning, over the course of
for climate action. reductions. 20–40 years, is a central component of
1. Technology transfer initiatives can the energy sector and energy policy-
accelerate the diffusion of low- making processes around the world.
carbon energy technologies. Yet The energy transition will A jurisdiction’s energy plan – and the
only a third of existing initiatives be enabled by information process of planning itself – can equip
focus on transferring skills, expertise technology, smart technology, policy makers with an understanding
and technology simultaneously. To policy frameworks and of the complex economic, political
ensure the success of a global energy market instruments. IRENA and environmental interrelations and
transition, tech transfer must be has assessed decarbonisation uncertainties surrounding energy
targeted and comprehensive. pathways through REmap, systems. Long-term energy plans feature
2. COP25 should coordinate a consistent and is equipped to support quantitative scenarios and targets for the
energy mix that meet a country’s overall
strategy among financial actors to shift and accelerate the energy policy goals, guiding the process of when,
financial flows for energy transitions in transition by providing the where and how to invest in the energy
the Global South. Common guidelines necessary knowledge, tools sector. Policy instruments and regulations
for long-term risk assessments and an and support to Member can also be created or adapted to achieve
exchange of best practices for capacity countries as they increase the these targets.
development could leverage ambition share of renewable energy in
in the 2020 NDC updating processes. their power sectors. Operational planning deals with shorter-
3. The energy transition is a pathway term horizons, ensuring that the existing
and planned generation assets and
toward transformation of the global schedules can meet the forecasted
energy sector from fossil-based Energy Planning Support load without resulting in violation of
to zero-carbon by the second half technical limits of the different power
of this century. At its heart is the Planning is an essential activity for the system equipment, as well as without
need to reduce energy-related CO2 energy sector. It helps to anticipate endangering system stability and security.
emissions to limit climate change. potential challenges and identify suitable

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