22 September 2023 | 8:30am-11:30am EDT

Blender Workspace, 135 Madison Ave Floor 8, New York, NY 10016, United States

Last Friday, Climate Strategies and SEI hosted a very timely event at Climate Week NYC under the frame of our Oil and Gas Transitions (OGT) programme. This session marked the completion of the current stage of OGT which, since 2021, has generated evidence and co-created just transition pathways to accelerate the transition from oil and gas in the North Sea.

Watch the recording here:

Besides sharing the key findings, recommendations and learnings from OGT’s work in Norway, Denmark and the UK, the event brought together a line-up of leading experts to discuss and debunk (with robust research-based evidence) some of the key myths and misleading narratives around the compatibility of oil and gas production and expansion with net zero and Paris Agreement pathways. This was particularly relevant in light of recent oil and gas expansion plans announced by major producing countries operating in the North Sea, the US, COP28’s host UAE, and others (more information here).

We believe that managed and inclusive Just Transitions are possible and can accelerate collective progress. Therefore, the key question addressed by speakers was: How can Just Transitions enable the implementation of credible net zero pledges and a progressive oil and gas phase-out?

The event also explored the role of developed economies in the transition, and the opportunities to harness emerging momentum in the international climate policy arena, such as at UNGA 78, the Climate Action Summit, the UN Acceleration Agenda and COP28.

We reiterate our appreciation to the Stanley Center for Peace and Security as a partner in hosting this event, as well as OGT funders Laudes Foundation and KR Foundation.

Event highlights and presentations

  • OGT panel of discussion: Just Transition pathways in the North Sea, and learnings to accelerate international transitions
  • Norway: “A just transition or just a widening gap?” –Kacper Szulecki, Research Professor in International Climate Governance, NUPI
  • Denmark: “The Danish phase-out of oil and gas: Lessons for other countries” – Poul Thøis Madsen, Associate Professor, Aalborg University
  • UK: “Oil and Gas Transitions in the UK 2020-2023: What have we learnt” – Navraj Singh Ghaleigh, Senior Lecturer in Climate Law, University of Edinburgh

  • Lessons from the North Sea for international transitions – Felipe Sanchez, Policy Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
  • “U.S. Oil & Gas Expansion: Blocking a global just transition, deepening environmental injustice” –Kelly Trout, Research Co-Director, Oil Change Internationals
  • “Global oil and gas production pathways in line with a net-zero future” – Ploy Achakulwisut, Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
  • “The role of international coordination and support for just transitions” – Siân Bradley, Head of Secretariat, Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA)