Worldwide, countries are moving from fossil fuel-based energy to renewable energy (RE) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. However, the transition to renewables comes with its own resource requirements, such as land and water, impacting local communities, Indigenous peoples, and the local ecology. Across regions with high RE potential there are patterns of loss of livelihood, conflicts during land transfer, concerns over competing utilisation of common resources such as water, and negative environmental impacts due to land diversions. These are also witnessed by G20 countries. For instance, Mexico, with a 34% Indigenous population, is facing challenges in RE deployment due to local opposition. India is seeing rising reported conflicts with $7.75 billion investments affected in ongoing conflicts as of 2024. Even mature RE markets such as the US are witnessing this challenge, with community opposition featuring in the top three reasons for project cancellations.

As we move towards renewables, G20 countries have a unique opportunity to lead a transition to a cleaner and equitable future, with people and ecology at the core of its ambitions. This would set a critical precedent as we move away from historically extractive fossil fuel-based energy, with positive outcomes for people and the environment. The Brazilian G20 presidency in 2024 produced a list of principles for just and inclusive energy transitions,6 such as promoting increased social dialogue and stakeholder participation and sustainable and inclusive economic growth for all. The South African G20 presidency in 2025 has also identified accelerated climate action and the just energy transition as a priority. This policy brief advances the current G20 agenda by providing actionable recommendations to operationalise the 2024 principles and attain a just and inclusive energy transition. To achieve this, we discuss the role of governance, introduce strategies such as low impact siting of land for renewable energy to minimise social and ecological impacts, engaging communities in decision-making, and prioritising models of benefit sharing for local communities. We also share best practices from G20 countries in people-centric renewable energy deployment to disseminate learnings for policymakers.