Just Energy Transition Initiative

Introduction

Mindful of the commitment of APEC Leaders in APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 to promote strong, balanced, secure, sustainable, and inclusive growth, and in recognition that more intensive efforts are needed for economies to accelerate their clean, sustainable, just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions, APEC economies develop this Just Energy Transition Initiative (JETI) through the Energy Working Group to promote efforts to advance energy transitions in the APEC region that engage the workforce, private sector companies and investors, and communities in an equitable and inclusive way, including MSMEs, women and others with untapped economic potential, such as Indigenous Peoples as appropriate.

For use in this context, just transitions may be considered as a continuous process of moving toward a sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy that provides decent, productive, and ecologically responsible livelihoods; and equitably distributes costs and benefits of the energy system within respective APEC economies consistent with their domestic circumstances. Just energy transitions support an orderly improvement of efficient energy production, transmission, distribution, and consumption intending to deliver sustainable development, support inclusive workforce development and decent work, eliminate energy poverty, achieve carbon neutrality, and ensure energy security, leaving no one behind.

International collaboration is critical for the development of a wide variety of energy sources and technologies, including but not limited to those listed under Thematic Area 5.

The JETI aims to support APEC economies in achieving their intended just energy transition milestones through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and best practices.

Objective

The main objective of the Just Energy Transition Initiative (JETI) is to help APEC member economies share just energy transition best practices, undertake their respective transition pathways, and accomplish their domestically relevant goals. The Initiative aims to organize and perform activities including studies, workshops, and knowledge sharing to enhance participation, information sharing, and policy best practices on just energy transition across APEC economies. The Initiative will be guided by the Non-Binding Just Energy Transition

Principles that were initially discussed at the 13th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM13) in August 2023 in Seattle, WA, and welcomed by the APEC Ministers in November 2023 in San Francisco, CA.

Non-Binding Just Energy Transition Principles for APEC Cooperation

  1. Take into account domestically defined economic growth priorities
  2. Pursue positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes.
  3. Deliver domestically defined equitable benefits.
  4. Support inclusion and gender equality.
  5. Create resilient firms, institutions, and communities.
  6. Provide support for decent work and workforce development.
  7. Promote healthy lives and well-being for all.

Just Energy Transition Initiative Activities:

As the Just Energy Transition Initiative is being established as the newest EWG initiative (following the Energy Security Initiative and the Energy Smart Communities Initiative), Just Energy Transition may be added to the next update of the EWG Strategic Plan, the EWG Work

Plan, the terms of reference of the EWG and its sub-bodies, and the criteria for the EELCER sub- fund, as appropriate. Activities supporting the Just Energy Transition Initiative may be included where appropriate as an element of current and future EWG workstreams. Initially, a series of APEC projects, including background studies and workshops, may be conducted to share ideas and information on JET best practices in thematic areas. Each background study and workshop will provide information on economies’ experiences, lessons learned, and success stories to nurture capacity building on JET across the APEC region. The following JET thematic areas and corresponding activities are envisioned and more may be added as determined by the EWG. Members can consider integrating public-private cooperation and cross-fora cooperation into their activities. We acknowledge that energy financing is an important aspect of energy transitions and respect the work performed by other APEC fora in furtherance of this goal.

The following thematic areas include a range of possible topics for collaborative projects and activities. Inclusion here does not constitute endorsement by all APEC members of any particular energy source, technology, or activity.

JETI Thematic Area 1: Just energy transition and energy security

Background Study and Workshop: This background study and workshop will focus on projects and activities across APEC on energy security from the perspectives of energy importers and exporters and how they have navigated balancing energy transitions (i.e., share on lessons learned, challenges, and recommendations). This thematic area will consider the Energy Security Initiative and its relationship to just transitions.

JETI Thematic Area 2: Fossil fuel power plants and just energy transition

Background Study and Workshop: The background study and workshop on this topic will discuss three key areas in the fossil fuel power plant transition landscape:

  • Fossil fuel-to-X (i.e., organic and voluntary decommissioning of fossil fuel power plants and repurposing, including as flexibility sources, and redeveloping them with renewable energy and other zero- and low-carbon technologies, including those listed in Thematic Area 5, below.
  • Workforce and jobs (i.e., plans, policies, and actions that mitigate workforce and job impacts, and job reconversion plans to ensure economic and community revitalization.
  • Catalyzing technologically and economically feasible investments in new industries and financial support mechanisms for the voluntary repurposing and redevelopment of fossil-fuel-fired power plants.

JETI Thematic Area 3: Just energy transition for gender equality, well-being, and inclusive sustainable development

Background Study and Workshop: This background study and workshop will integrate the various elements of well-being (e.g., energy, food, water, transportation, etc. (i.e., quality of life) and address how member economies are integrating these in their projects and plans to ensure equitable access to resources, and opportunities, and decent work.

Priorities on women, MSMEs, Indigenous Peoples as appropriate, people with disabilities, those from remote and rural communities, and others with untapped economic potential will be discussed in light of energy transitions.

JETI Thematic Area 4: Rural electrification and energy access

Background Study and Workshop: This background study and workshop will focus on efforts that balance the need for energy transition with electrification, including integration of higher shares of renewable energy into energy systems, especially for those economies that lag behind in electricity generation and access. Under this thematic area APEC economies can share resources for capacity building to maximize their use of domestically available resources, such as financial programs, policy development, and program implementation for rural electrification and energy access.

JETI Thematic Area 5: Technical solutions for just energy transition

Background Study and Workshop: This background study and workshop is intended to cover various technology, policy, and skills and workforce development solutions that contribute to just energy transition. This work could cover topics that include:

Policy Frameworks

  • Demand response and demand side management
  • Clean/sustainable energy policy and regulatory frameworks
  • Digital and green transition in the energy sector
  • Financing
  • Strategies to advance workforce development and quality jobs in order to support technical solutions

Sustainable Technologies

  • Technical solutions/equipment needed for the safe and stable operation of power systems, including those with a high ratio of rooftop solar integration
  • Energy efficiency and low-carbon solutions
  • Carbon capture and storage (CCS)/Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)
  • Regional Interconnectivity, including to facilitate cross-border electricity trading projects

Fuels and Energy Sources

  • Distributed energy resources
  • Clean and low carbon hydrogen, and its derivatives, such as ammonia
  • E-fuels, e-methane and other fuels that can readily mix with and lower the emissions of existing fossil fuels
  • Biomass, biofuels, biogas and biomethane
  • Natural gas and LPG
  • Fossil fuels with abatement and removal technologies and offset mechanisms
  • Research, development and deployment of nuclear energy for interested economies, adhering to nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and peaceful uses, including opportunities for integration of nuclear energy and other clean energy technologies, such as variable renewables.

Grids and Storage

  • Microgrids
  • Smart grid
  • Renewable integration
  • Energy storage

In addition to the above activities, a new section has been added to the ESCI Knowledge Sharing Platform (ESCI-KSP) homepage to support knowledge sharing of just energy transition best practices. In addition, the criteria for the ESCI Awards program have been revised to add a criterion for just energy transition, which was used for the sixth ESCI Awards announced earlier in 2024.

Scroll to Top