FOUNDING DECLARATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ENERGY TRANSITION STUDIES

This declaration describes the motivation for the establishment of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS). All the founding members undersigned have endorsed it through email correspondence.

There is a need for the global energy sector to move from a fossil dominated industry to a low or zero-carbon industry. The current global energy sector heavily relies on fossil fuels and accounts for at least two-thirds of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  However, to achieve the Paris target, emissions need to fall to net zero by 2050.

The world has unprecedented opportunities in the transition towards a sustainable low carbon future through the rapid development of new energy technologies, digital transformation in the energy sector, and emerging energy markets.

Energy transition is often perceived as the development of renewable and clean energy and energy efficiency. However, the transition of industries of fossil fuels and related sectors such as power generation, transportation, space heating and cooling, is equally important.

Bringing together various stakeholders with the objective of bridging the gaps between knowledge and practice can accelerate the energy transition through better-informed policy interventions and decisive, and sometimes painful actions.

For these reasons, we propose the establishment of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) based in Australia.

ISETS is an independent, non-profit, membership-based global organization for the academic, business, government, and other professionals concerned with energy transition. Membership of ISETS is open to both individuals and organizations who have an interest in the field of the energy transition, subject to an application and evaluation process. 

Vision 

Our vision is to facilitate an equitable and inclusive transition of energy and relevant sectors toward a sustainable low-carbon future with consideration of economic development, social equity, and environmental stewardship through international partnerships.

Mission 

The International Society for Energy Transition Studies aims:

• To contribute to debates on energy transition with a balanced consideration of both fossil fuel sectors and their alternatives
• To advance knowledge in the future development of energy systems and their transition processes
• To create a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue and debates through connecting different countries and regions
• To enable businesses, and public and private orgnizations, to align their development trajectory towards clean energy pathways, and
• To engage with national and international organizations, technology providers, and financial institutions to work in synergy towards energy transition

Action plan

In order to bring these aims to life, ISETS will:

• Organise conferences and workshops in cooperation with our partners to establish a forum for dialogue
• Seek research grants for conducting original research by pooling members’ expertise
• Establish a working paper series and an academic journal to disseminate knowledge
• Maintain a website and social media pages to enable sharing knowledge and good practices on energy transition, and
• Provide policy suggestions to governments, industries, and other civil actors

 

 

Founding Members

Individuals

Dr. Philip Andrews-Speed, Senior Principal Fellow, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore

Dr. Daniel del Barrio Alvarez, Assistant professor,  International Project Laboratory of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Dr. Weerawat Chantanakome, Councilor and Advisor, Ministry of Energy of Thailand

Mr. Yong Chen,  Programme Officer, Innovation and Technology Center (IITC), IRENA

Dr. James Cheong, Associate Professor, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong

Prof. Shabbir H. Gheewala, Professor, Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)

Prof. Quentin Grafton, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University

Dr. Phoumin Han, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Dr. Llewelyn Hughes, Associate Professor, College of Asia & the Pacific, Australian National University

Dr. Geoff James, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures,  University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Dr. Qiang JI, Associate Professor, Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Dr. Ken Koyama, Managing Director, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)

Prof. James Laurenceson, Director, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney

Dr. Yanfei LI, Research Fellow, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Dr. Tatiana Mitrova, Director, SKOLKOVO Energy Centre, Moscow School of Management

Mr. Hari MP,  Analyst, Emera Inc

Dr. Victor Nian, Senior Research Fellow, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore

Dr. Jinho Park, Senior Fellow, Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI)

Dr. Mmaxensius tri Sambodo, Researcher, Indonesian Institute of Sciences

Prof. Vinod Sharma, Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR)

Dr. Xunpeng SHI, Principal Research Fellow, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney

Prof. Yongping SUN, Professor, School of Low Carbon Economics, Hubei University of Economics

Dr. Xiansheng SUN, Secretary-General, International Energy Forum (IEF)

Dr. Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, Associate Professor, Tokai University

Dr. Michael Williamson, Chief, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Dr. Bertrand Williams-Rioux, Senior Research Associate, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC)

Prof. Naoyuki Yoshino, Former Dean, Asia Development Bank Institute

Dr. Yongping ZHAI, Chief of the Energy Sector Group, Asia Development Bank

Prof. Dayong ZHANG, Professor, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

Prof. Xiao-ping Zhang, Chair in Electrical Power Systems, University of Birmingham

 

Institutes

Australian Energy Transition Institute, www.aueti.org

Center of Hubei Cooperative Innovation for Emissions Trading System, http://ets.hbue.edu.cn/ 

China Energy Finance Network, http://www.cnefn.com/