Research
Towards a low-carbon energy sector
Discussion group "Global Energy Transition and International Politics" (GETIP Group)
The discussion group on global energy transition and international politics (formerly the sustainability group) is hosted by the Clingendael International Energy Programme. Its members are employees from oil and energy companies, banks, governmental departments, environmental non-governmental organisations, energy consultants and other persons interested in discussing the relationships between international energy matters and sustainable development.
The GETIP group was founded in December 2005 and convenes regularly, usually at the Clingendael Institute. Chatham House rules apply to the group meetings, meaning that participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
In 2006, topics of events included a discussion of the results of the Montreal climate change conference, an analysis of the different ways in which renewable energy is funded in Europe, a meeting on multilateral frameworks needed for access to energy in developing countries, and a discussion about the role of energy innovation in a global energy transition. Speakers from WWF, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ECN, Philips and ETC Leusden were invited to give introductions.
In 2007, the meetings were organised under the general title "Drivers for Change". Discussion sessions included a debate on the role of incumbent oil companies versus that of new enterprises specialising in low-carbon energy technologies, the European Commission's Strategic Energy Technology Plan, energy innovation in Russia, the role of biofuels in developing countries, and the climate change policy programme in China. In November, a debate was organised about the importance of new energy technologies to oil-producing countries. In a concluding session in December, lessons learned regarding drivers for changes were a central focus point. Speakers who gave introductions in 2007 are affiliated to the European Commission, Ecofys, Utrecht University, the Dutch Ministries of Eonomic Affairs and Environment, Eindhoven University, SNV, Sussex University, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Greenpeace.
Topics of meetings for 2008 will be published soon.