Policy Brief

SDG7 and the Just Energy Transition: A Case for G20-Led Best Practices

The global energy landscape presents stark contrasts between aspiration and reality. While international agreements champion clean energy access for all, nearly 900 million people worldwide lack basic electricity, with millions more suffering from unreliable and costly power supplies. This policy brief examines how G20 nations can lead the implementation of SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) through best practices that ensure a just energy transition – one that balances environmental imperatives with economic development and social equity. Drawing from cases in Brazil, Vietnam, India, and Mexico, we identify actionable strategies that the G20 can implement to advance energy justice while addressing global inequalities. This brief emphasises that successful implementation requires not only technology and financing but also inclusive governance systems that centre the voices of historically SUB marginalised communities in decision-making processes.

1 Oct 2025

Task Force

Keywords

Just energy transitionrenewable energy

Author/s

Prof. Syed Munir Khasru
Chair,
Institute for Policy, Advocacy and Governance (IPAG)
(Australia)
Riad Meddeb
Director,
Sustainable Energy Hub, UNDP
(United States)
Hans Olav Ibrekk
Special Envoy for Climate and Security,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Norway)
Dr Gauri Singh
Deputy Director General,
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
(United Arab Emirates)
Dr Vibha Dhawan
Director General,
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
(India)
Prof. Michael Weisberg
University of Pennsylvania
(United States)
Heather Henriksen
Chief Sustainability Officer,
Harvard Office for Sustainability
(United States)
Prof. Hunt Allcott
Global Environmental Policy, Stanford University & Senior Fellow,
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)
(United States)
Preeti Pandya
Senior Research Associate,
IPAG India
(India)