This panel will discuss the contestations, compliance and disregard for energy transition policymaking globally.

The global transition towards clean and affordable energy is crucial to achieve net zero carbon emissions (cf. SDG7, 13). While the IPCC and the UN continue to highlight the urgency of decarbonisation, few countries are reflecting this urgency in realizing their net zero plans and most continue to rely on fossil fuels. This is true even for countries that have national energy transition (NET) frameworks to operationalise the Paris Agreement and SDG7.

The panel will primarily focus on unpacking the drivers of energy transition policies using three interdisciplinary analytical perspectives. The first concerns the politics of policymaking, where our argument is that the way countries approach energy transition policies is informed by their understanding of fairness, justice, and equity, domestically and internationally. The second concerns the political economy of energy transitions, where we argue that interest groups like trade unions, agricultural, and industrial groups lobby governments to influence the nature, scope, urgency, and integrity of energy transition policies. The third interrogates the broader questions about recognition or denial of agency in international relations.

These three analytical perspectives have been informed by an extensive review of literature and primary research in five countries across four continents, funded by the King’s Climate and Sustainability Seed Fund. Our findings show that three approaches to National Energy Transitions are discernible in the global transitions despite there being some overlaps: Some countries are ‘good faith movers’, others are ’systemic contesters’, and the rest fall into a loose category of ‘laggards’, who are either disinterested in (or give ‘lip service’ to) genuine transitions, or which have the capacity to actand plans in place, but continue to fail to prioritise climate politically.

This panel will interrogate these drivers in four of the case countries (Barbados, Denmark, Ghana and United Arab Emirates), positioned within the global framework of climate and sustainability transitions. 

About the panelists

Dr Clement Sefa-Nyarko

Dr Clement Sefa-Nyarko (African Leadership Centre) is an expert in research design and methodology, focusing on resource governance and energy transitions in Africa and Australia. He is co-investigator of the ARUA-The Guild Centre of Excellence on Interdisciplinary Peace Research. His recent work addresses National Energy Transition frameworks, leadership, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Sefa-Nyarko also leads impact and innovation initiatives at Global Institutes at King’s and is researching critical minerals governance for energy transitions.

Dr Hillary Briffa

Dr Hillary Briffa (Department of War Studies) is a Senior Lecturer in National Security Studies and leads the ‘Climate Change and International Order’ portfolio at the Centre for Grand Strategy. She specializes in small state security and climate issues, including co-leading a research project on defence industrial strategies and climate security in partnership with UNSW Canberra, and speaking at COP29 in Baku. Internationally, Hillary is the Academic Chair for the Knowledge Hub on Climate for Circle-U, an alliance of nine-research intensive universities, for whom she runs educational programmes on climate change.

Dr Pauline Heinrichs

Dr Pauline Heinrichs (Department of War Studies) researches ontological security, climate diplomacy, and international climate orders. With a background in climate diplomacy for the German Foreign Ministry, she has advised G7 and G20 countries on energy transitions. She developed a technical assistance facility for 13 key energy transition countries as part of the COP26 energy campaign.

Dr Portia Roelofs

Dr Portia Roelofs (Department of Political Economy) focuses on governance, accountability, and public sector reform, particularly in Nigeria. She chairs the Global South Research Group at King’s and co-convenes the Global Development Politics Special Group at the PSA. Her work emphasizes the role of ideas, discourse, and ideology in governance, drawing from political economy and critical development studies.

About King's Africa Week

Hosted by the African Leadership Centre and Africa research group, Africa Week is an annual celebration of research, education and outreach activities on Africa.

King's Africa Week brings together academics, researchers and students from across King's – and offers the opportunity to hear from African scholars, leaders and thinkers. It also showcases King's collaboration with African universities and partners.

Find out more about Africa Week