Science advice for a clean and fair energy transition: a challenge and a call for action

Science advisors from across the world are jointly calling on global leaders to give renewed impetus to the green transition, and put people at its center to ensure its fairness and effectiveness.

A clear scientific consensus on most of the necessary measures exists, but there is an urgent need to mobilize policymakers and society at large to act. Successfully mitigating climate change requires harnessing research and innovation to develop novel solutions and scale-up existing ones across all sectors of the global economy. But focusing on technology and regulations alone will not suffice to achieve a climate neutral society by 2050, nor universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030.

All citizens should be involved in their multiple roles (e.g. as consumer, producers, or members of a community) as active participants in the energy transition. With this in mind, this panel discussion organized by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors in collaboration with SAPEA will allow scientists who advise governments and international organizations around the world to present the key messages of their recent joint statement, and to discuss them with representatives from businesses, policy and civil society.

Speakers

• Prof Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice Chair of Working Group III of IPCC and member of the SAPEA energy transition working group
• Prof Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Deputy Chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission
• Prof Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Advisor at the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Prof Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor to Canada's Prime Minister