Forbes Piece: New Study Details A Complex, Contentious, Non-Linear Energy Transition

[Note: This story is also published at Forbes.com]

The energy transition is far more complex than has previously been thought and is proceeding on a non-linear progression involving multiple transitions in different parts of the world. That’s the principal finding in a new study titled, “Shaping a Living Roadmap for Energy Transition.”

The study, a collaboration between S&P Global and the International Energy Forum, included the conduct of a series of discussion forums held in places like Cape Town, Bali, Riyadh, Washington DC, Panama City, and Davos from October 2022 through February 2023. The goal was to capture views and information from those with firsthand knowledge regarding the direction of the varied energy transitions in widely disparate regions of the world. Participants included representatives from industry, financial institutions, governments, NGOs, academia, research institutions and think tanks.

"Expectations of a linear global transition have been shaken as climate goals coexist with priorities around energy security, energy access, and affordability," said Joseph McMonigle, Secretary General of the IEF, in a press release. "Instead, a ‘multidimensional’ approach is required that is inclusive of different situations in different parts of the world, reflecting varied starting points, a diversity of policy approaches; and is equitable.”