Sustainable Lifestyles, Fairness and Access to Clean Energy Technologies
Goal
The campaign on sustainable lifestyles, fairness and access to clean energy technologies is a commitment by countries and partners to join forces to enable the global clean energy transition to happen in a fair way.
The campaign’s ambition is to enable countries and partners to incentivise and share policies that ensure no-one is left behind as we move towards greener and more competitive economies.
Overview
The clean technology transition is essential, but it’s not an end in itself. We need to ensure everyone benefits and is supported as we move towards greener and more competitive economies.
The transition has to work for the many, not just the few. We need to make it easier for people to shift to more sustainable lifestyles while having access to clean energy technologies, especially vulnerable societal groups. Countries, partners and other stakeholders can play a central role in this process by developing and sharing the guiding principles that need to underpin this large-scale transformation. The campaign, kicked off in Foz do Iguaçu on 1st October 2024, will run for two years and include a non-binding pledge, a study from the International Energy Agency, the sharing of good practices including a workshop and a final report with the main outcomes. A communication campaign will be also undertaken to raise awareness.
The opportunity
The clean energy transition’s success hinges not only on adopting more efficient technologies, but also on the energy consumption and the emissions we generate. Shifts in lifestyles and behaviours have the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40-70% by 2050 according to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Individual and collective efforts to embrace sustainable practices can therefore have a profound impact on mitigation.
The new campaign aims at raising awareness on reducing our energy consumption with behavioural adaptation at all levels, while ensuring that also the most vulnerable groups have access to clean energy technologies. Policy measures need to be developed appropriately considering the fairness dimension, as not all societal groups can reduce their energy consumption and access such technologies. At the same time, those contributing least to climate change are suffering most from its adverse effects.
Through this campaign, we are bringing together countries and partners that share the same values and goals: embedding social justice within the clean energy transition, so that its benefits are equitably shared. By signing a non-binding pledge, they endorse principles that will spur action across the globe and create the momentum to push forward a just transition that leaves no one behind.
Declaration on promoting sustainable lifestyles, fairness, and access to clean energy technologies
CEM Members, including countries, partners, and other stakeholders, recognise the need to promote and facilitate behavioural and lifestyle changes to support the energy transition in a fair and inclusive manner, ensuring that all individuals and communities, including persons in vulnerable situation, youth and women, can participate and benefit equitably. In this context, they declare the intention to take actions considering one or more of the following principles:
Part 1 – Policy: Leading by acting
- Incentivize and enable sustainable lifestyle changes and fairness, including for the persons in vulnerable situations in society. Encourage the development of policies and actions with clear objectives and targets.
- Share and report on policies, good practices and other initiatives supporting sustainable lifestyle, fairness and affordable, reliable, efficient and sustainable low emission technologies which have been or will be put in place, motivating other members to follow the steps.
- Undertake communication and awareness campaigns to promote and inform citizens about the benefits of sustainable lifestyle changes, including intergenerational fairness, as well as the access to affordable, reliable, efficient and sustainable low emissions technologies.
Part 2 – People: Empowering Individuals and Communities
- Support educational programmes and cultural developments that support nature conservation, efficient use of energy and minimise environmental footprints for a sustainable future at all levels of education/training.
- Involve and empower local communities in fostering sustainable lifestyles for improving our environment for present and future generations, involving cities and other local authorities, social partners and civil society as well as businesses.
- Actively involve youth and women in promoting lifestyle changes and access to energy-efficient technologies. By empowering them and providing educational resources, we envisage to cultivate a sustainable future where every individual has the knowledge and tools to prioritize energy efficiency.
- Support policies to ensure efficient use of energy and materials by households and/or companies through sustainable behaviours and technologies, thereby saving energy and preserving resources, while ensuring accessibility, affordability and equity in meeting everyone’s basic needs.
Part 3 – Sector: Transforming systems
- Support the advancement of clean building practices, embracing techniques and technologies that prioritise efficiency, sustainability and affordability for all.
- Enhance accessibility to low-emission mobility in both urban and rural areas. By promoting sustainable transportation options affordable for all, we aim to create inclusive and environmentally friendly mobility solutions for all members of our community.
- Support a universal transition to affordable, reliable, efficient and sustainable low emission energy technologies by investing or encouraging targeted measures and campaigns that promote fairness.
- Implement actions to promote sustainable lifestyle and fairness in other areas related to the energy transition such as food production and consumption methods, textile production and consumption habits, recycling methods, clean cooking etc.
By endorsing this declaration, CEM members and other relevant stakeholders express their intention to implement policies and actions aligned with the principles outlined herein, and, on a voluntary basis, may share information on their progress, including success stories that demonstrates their commitment to sustainable lifestyles.
Please note this declaration and its principles are intended to guide actions and foster accountability and they are not legally binding agreements. We rely on the collective goodwill and dedication of applicants to uphold these principles and work towards a sustainable future together.
