…representatives from global civil society presented a series of proposals to G20 countries to implement an energy transition with social and environmental justice. The occasion was the third meeting of the G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG), coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), held in Belo Horizonte (MG). Enabling a just global energy transition is considered a priority theme for the G20 this year, under Brazil’s presidency...

Civil society proposals were developed by Working Group 3 (WG3) of the C20 – the main civil society engagement space in the G20…

One of the main arguments presented in the civil society letter to the G20 is that the construction and implementation of energy transition plans must be based on transparent and participatory processes, with strong leadership from civil society, to ensure democratic decisions oriented towards the public interest with due respect for human rights…

The recommendations of the document presented in Belo Horizonte to the G20 countries were organized into five main points:

The just energy transition must combat energy poverty and ensure universal and equitable access to sufficient energy to meet basic needs and achieve a dignified quality of life;

While the need for a global energy transition is indisputable, it cannot occur at the expense of historically exploited peoples and populations;

The increasing demand for the extraction of critical minerals cannot repeat the colonial pattern of resource exploitation from the past;

The focus of the just transition must be on communities historically dependent on fossil fuels;

A just transition means ensuring consultation with affected communities and effective popular participation throughout the process.

Read the entire letter here

In this direction, civil society representatives at the G20 meeting in Belo Horizonte highlighted the following key elements for renewable energy projects, such as wind and photovoltaic complexes: i) respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities to self-determination, including guarantees of their territorial rights and the right to free, prior, and informed consent on energy transition projects, ii) early community participation in decision-making processes; and iii) guarantees of effective mechanisms for complaints and reparations…