ENERGY TRANSITION PLATFORM
The Climate Group brings together
the world’s most influential state
and regional governments to
accelerate the global transition
to a low carbon economy. States
& Regions share expertise on
innovative policy, report on
measurable climate actions
and drive ambitious emissions
reductions.
For over a decade the States
& Regions Alliance has been
leading this work - a network of 38
governments from six continents
which collectively account for
368 million people, 12% of global
GDP and 2.9 gigatons of CO2
emissions. All are spearheading
impactful climate policy in their
countries.
Following the historic Paris
Agreement, The Climate Group
is supporting states and regions
around the world to adapt to
climate impacts, limit emissions
by 2020 and achieve net-zero
emissions by 2050.
November 2016
OBJECTIVES
The Energy Transition Platform is an initiative designed to support state and
regional governments in developing and implementing innovative clean energy
policies.
The Climate Group, alongside the initiative’s lead government, North RhineWestphalia, and Stiftung Mercator launched the Energy Transition Platform in
early 2016 with the aim to connect highly industrialized, carbon intensive states
and regions to:
—— Analyze energy transition experiences;
—— Enable in-depth global peer learning on energy transition policies and initiatives;
—— Overcome barriers to energy transition challenges and adopt innovative models.
To mitigate climate change on a global scale, it is vital that economies rapidly find
feasible methods to transition to low carbon energy systems. Many of the largest
potential emissions cuts can only be realized through policies developed and
implemented by state and regional governments. Many states and regions are
already implementing forward-thinking climate and energy policies that are
shaping the world’s future policy landscape. They play a crucial role in helping to
deliver the greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions needed while responding to growing
global demand for energy.
Through the Energy Transition Platform, states and regions receive the support
and knowledge they need to accelerate the low carbon energy transition and
decarbonize their economy. By building a global network of government peers,
as well as including expert and stakeholder input, challenges are addressed
collaboratively and partnerships promoted. The Energy Transition Platform
facilitates the adoption of emerging innovative policy models by states and
regions but also demonstrates the need for up-scaled action at the national and
international level.
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PROJECT PHASES AND OUTPUTS
The Energy Transition Platform has two main phases:
1. During the Peer Forum phase, energy transition experiences are analyzed and participating governments exchange
and learn about successful models and shared challenges.
2. During the Innovation Lab phase, the governments work closely together to spread the most promising energy
transition innovations and initiatives through adoption, scale-up and solution-finding for overcoming barriers.
Thematic areas that are being discussed include stakeholder engagement and community based renewables, mobilizing
energy-intensive industries, grid integration of renewables and emission reductions from the heating sector.
Through its Peer Forums, innovative policies implemented by state and regional governments are identified. Case studies
on those policies are on The Climate Group’s website: TheClimateGroup.org/EnergyTransitionPlatform
TIMELINE
METHOD AND TOOLS
Analyse North Rhine-Westphalia’s energy transition experience.
Feb. Apr. 2016
Data mapping,
consultation
Outreach to participating governments and identify policy areas and key
barriers to be discussed in Peer Forum.
May 2016
Event, workshop
Kick-off: Public launch and first Peer Forum in North Rhine-Westphalia.
May 2016Apr. 2017
Webinars,
case studies,
workshops
Best practice sharing: Facilitate information exchange and learning on
relevant policy models and challenges by government practitioners.
Dec. 2016Jun. 2017
Expert analysis,
in-depth
briefings
Assessment: Evaluate impact and replicability of policy models presented and
identify catalysts and barriers for adoption.
Jan. - Oct.
2017
Workshops,
research support,
partnerships
Transfer: Develop options for regional customization and potential adoption
of policy models.
Jan. - Oct.
2017
Expert and
research support,
workshops
Joint solution-finding: Define key challenges and facilitate the development of
solutions and steps for their implementation.
Dec. 2017
Event, report
Share and communicate results and learnings from Energy Transition Platform.
INNOVATION LAB
Research report
PEER FORUM
Nov. 2015Apr. 2016
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PARTNER REGIONS
The Energy Transition Platform connects a select group of state and regional governments across
some of the most highly industrialized territories in the world. As the partner regions share structural
economic similarities, they are able to effectively learn about their peers’ activities and policy initiatives
in areas relating their own energy transition challenges.
Partner regions of the Energy Transition Platform include: Alberta, the Basque Country, California,
Hauts-de-France, Lombardy, Minnesota, North Rhine-Westphalia, Silesia, South Australia, Upper
Austria and Wales.
Profiles of each partner regions’ energy systems and policies are on The Climate Group’s website:
TheClimateGroup.org/EnergyTransitionPlatform
PROJECT PARTNERS
The Government of North Rhine-Westphalia is the lead government of the Energy Transition
Platform. Contributing to over 30% of German GHG emissions and producing one third of German
energy, North Rhine-Westphalia is a prime example of how the energy transition can work – but it
also shows the common challenges that governments are facing. The government believes that a
low carbon future offers great opportunities for the state, its businesses and citizens, and has already
committed to ambitious climate action - North Rhine-Westphalia was the first German state to adopt its
own Climate Change Bill in 2013.
Knowledge partners, such as research institutes and think tanks, support the Energy Transition
Platform with scientific background analysis and data collection.
Expert partners and stakeholders, such as companies and interest groups, join meetings where
relevant for the specific topic of the discussion. They are also decisive when developing and testing
opportunities for the adoption of emerging solutions.
The Energy Transition Platform is funded by Stiftung Mercator.
POLICY INNOVATION AND LEARNING
The Energy Transition Platform is a lead example of our States & Regions Policy Innovation work,
through which The Climate Group addresses the urgent questions and obstacles governments face in
delivering ambitious climate targets.
Our Policy Innovation program works with state and regional governments to drive global emissions
reductions through Peer Forums and Innovation Labs. By providing governments with the
opportunities, resources and expertise they need to learn from one another’s experience, we drive the
pace of climate policy development and adoption at the state and regional level.
We support ambitious states and regions around the world to “scale up their climate actions” to
help meet, and go beyond, current climate targets, while delivering clear economic, health and
environmental benefits to local communities.
In addition to energy transition, we are also supporting peer-to-peer learning on climate adaptation,
electric vehicles and energy efficiency.
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CONTACT
Anne-Sophie Dörnbrack, States & Regions Policy Manager (Energy Transition), The Climate Group
+44 (0)207 960 2977 | [email protected]
Website: TheClimateGroup.org/EnergyTransitionPlatform
Funded by:
Supported by lead government:
THE CLIMATE GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING WITH STATES AND REGIONS FOR OVER A DECADE TO:
Promote global climate leadership.
Governors, premiers and regional presidents are part of a new era of climate leaders, driven less by global politics and more by
local realities. These leaders have the power to act on key areas of climate and energy policy and have the political will to get the
job done. Through the States & Regions Alliance, we promote the collective voice of states and regions around the world and
push for greater ambition at national and international levels.
Demonstrate impact and action.
States and regions are setting ambitious climate targets and standards for impactful global climate action. The Climate Group
supports state and regional governments to measure and report their climate commitments and actions. In 2015, over 40
governments reported over 300 climate commitments and actions to the Compact of States and Regions.
Share and scale the policies that work.
States and regions are leading the way on innovative climate and energy policy, shaping the world’s future policy landscape.
Through our Policy Innovation program, we provide a forum for peer-to-peer learning, aiming to accelerate the pace of climate
policy development and adoption at the sub-national level.
Drive net-zero emissions.
States and regions are important stakeholders in the international climate governance processes and current national plans
to reduce GHG emissions are expected to limit temperature rise in this century to about 2.7°C if perfectly implemented. This
points to a need for both great execution, and even greater ambition in the coming years. Through the Under2 MOU, over
150 governments have committed to a below 2 degree future and net-zero emissions by 2050. The Climate Group is working
to support these governments to achieve this target and send a clear signal that net-zero emissions by 2050 is achievable,
desirable and leads to faster results.
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PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2016
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