A just transition for the oil and gas sector is the next frontier for climate mitigation. The IEA warned that achieving 1.5°C requires making 2020 a decade of massive clean energy expansion and investment globally. For fossil fuels, it also means no new oil and gas fields approved for development as of 2021. The Glasgow pledges made at COP26 could, for the first time, put the world on-track to meet the Paris Agreement at 1.8°C global warming. However, most commitments are not yet backed by policies to drive their implementation, and they are still far from limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Furthermore, ‘oil and gas’ are not directly acknowledged in the pledges.
Developed countries, such as Denmark, Norway and the UK in the North Sea, are expected to play a key role as first-movers, with some carbon budget scenarios suggesting they should phase out oil and gas as early as 2035. Only Denmark has so far set a date for phasing out production. Denmark is regarded as having one of the most ambitious climate plans in the world and is a front runner in the transition, including success stories like leading the signing of the Esbjerg Declaration, which aims to transform the North Sea into Europe’s green power plant.
Our event aims to highlight Denmark’s climate leadership role, and to explore what does the Danish experience means for the just transition of other oil and gas producing countries, including:
- What are the key factors that make it possible for a country to set a course towards an oil and gas production phase-out?
- How does exposure to climate change impacts and/or geopolitical risks influence a country’s propensity to restrict fossil fuel supply?
- How does the connection between a country’s fossil fuel supply and demand come into play?
- How could international collaboration best be organized?
Agenda
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
| 15:00 | Welcome and introduction | Moderator |
| 15:05 | Presentation:
What does the Just Transition mean for Oil and Gas?: Findings from our Oil and Gas Transitions Pathways |
Adriana Chavarria, Programme Officer at Climate Strategies |
| 15:10 | Panel I:
Just Transition Scenarios for the North Sea: Lessons and Key Questions from Denmark, Norway and the UK |
Ulrik Eversbusch, Director/Head of Department at Danish Energy Agency
Mark Campanale, Founder & Executive Chairman at Carbon Tracker Aled Fisher, Climate and communications advisor at Friends of the Earth Norway |
| 15:30 | Panel II:
A Global Endeavour: International Perspectives on an Oil and Gas Just Transition that leaves no one behind |
Hauwa Mustapha, Climate Coordinator at the Nigerian Labour Congress
Amr Seleem, Board Member of Youthinkgreen Egypt and Climate Resilience Officer at the Climate Champions team Ana Carolina González, Senior Director for Programs at the Natural Resource Governance Institute in Colombia |
| 15:50 | Q&A | Moderator |