From 9-13 September 2024 the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT) will hold its Annual Meeting in Poland. Hosted in Warsaw by its Polish member – Forum Energii – the meeting is set to delve into the realities of supporting just transitions in INETTT member countries. It also aims to facilitate global exchange on the topic through an international conference on the multi-faceted nature of just transitions (taking place on 12 September) with the participation of government representatives from Poland and other countries. Attendees will also witness change in the making through a study tour to Europe’s biggest lignite power plant in transition.
About INETTT and Forum Energii
INETTT spans four continents and 16 countries, working with 20 independent, non-profit think tanks on accelerating sustainable energy transitions and supporting collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. The network leverages its members’ knowledge and experience, with think tanks conducting thorough analysis and developing sound policy recommendations. In addition, INETTT develops and implements institutional and thematic skills-sharing programmes to allow its community of energy professionals around the world to collaborate and learn from each other.
Forum Energii, a founding member of INETTT, was established in Warsaw in 2016 with the mission to use data and analysis to facilitate the development of a clean, innovative, safe and efficient energy sector in Poland. Forum shares its knowledge and recommendations through research activities and by supporting a wide range of expert and public dialogues on the future of the Polish energy sector.
Focus on a Just Transition
The gathering in Warsaw in September 2024 is the network’s third Annual Meeting, following previous meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa (2023) and Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt (2022) on the occasion of the COP27 climate summit. This year’s leading theme is “Just Transition(s).” The meeting will foster international exchange on many facets of the challenges as well as solutions that address the diversity of social, economic and energy contexts of the transformation towards net-zero. This includes discussions on the drivers of transitions, energy access and affordability, power system specificities, coal, and industry sector transformation, as well as on the necessary financial support and developing sector strategies both at national and regional levels.
Poland’s role and future prospects
During their visit to Poland, members of the network will have the opportunity to gain insights into the Polish energy transition and be able to reflect on the country’s challenges compared to those in their own, identifying similarities, synergies and possibly also common solutions. These discussions will be facilitated by a study tour to Bełchatów, Europe’s biggest coal-fired (lignite) power plant with 5 GW of installed capacity.
The role of Poland as host country is important not only because of the acceleration of renewables’ deployment and coal phase-out, but also for its upcoming role as the EU Presidency in the first half of 2025. Poland will lead the 27 EU member states in their discussions on their 2040 climate goal – a crucial part of the EU’s climate plan – its Nationally Determined Contribution – under the Paris Agreement. All parties must submit this plan to the treaty ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in 2025.
Furthermore, the INETTT Annual Meeting in Poland is designed to create momentum for two events. The first is the inaugural convening of the INETTT Executive Board, a new network institution evolving from the need of its members to co-create and steer the development of this exceptional community.
The second is the international conference "Many pathways, one goal. How to achieve the just transition globally and locally" which brings together international think tanks and governments from four continents to discuss the diversity of challenges but also potential cooperation venues at the international level. The conference will gather both technical and high-level insights on managing transitions in a just way and is intended to feed into political agendas at the European and global levels. The event’s various formats will foster international exchange among a spectrum of energy transition stakeholders, including governments, think tanks, academia, businesses and civil society.