Institutionalizing Energy Innovations Towards Low-carbon Transformations? – Lessons from the Global South

Event Type
International Workshop

Location / Date
Bonn, 25.06.2025

Organizer

German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Institutionalizing Low Carbon Development (INLOCADE), Universität Potsdam, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

Background & Objectives

States and non-state actors have pledged countless commitments to tackle climate change. They initiated projects, programs, and innovative approaches to demonstrate what is feasible and necessary to mitigate climate change. Yet, many of these projects struggle to survive and often remain locked-in their niches without broader systemic effects or did not survive the ‘experimentation’ stage. However, despite considerable technological advancements and financial commitments over the last decades, sustaining and institutionalizing mitigation efforts remains a key challenge in post-Paris climate governance. This is particularly prevalent in the Global South, where carbon emissions are expected to grow most significantly over the next decades.

This workshop presents findings from the 4.5-year-long, DFG-funded INLOCADE research project, which examines the political institutionalization of climate change mitigation in the high-carbon intensive energy sector in four democratic emerging economies: Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa. The workshop connects researchers and practitioners, including partners from case study countries and delegates attending the UNFCCC intersessionals, in a discussion about key findings and their implications for low-carbon transformations. Given IDOS’s strong research focus on climate governance and energy transitions (notably through the Klimalog project), this workshop will also explore the intersections between INLOCADE’s findings and IDOS’s work, particularly in the area of low-carbon transformations and transitions.

 

Schedule

Main Event (9:30 – 13:30)

9:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:45 Keynote & Discussion: Institutionalizing Low-Carbon Development in the Global South

  • Short inputs from scholars on their research on institutionalizing energy innovations in the Global South, including potentials for transformative change
  • INLOCADE
    i. Why institutionalization - how it works and why it matters (short: research design)
    ii. Patterns of institutionalization in the Global South
    iii. Lessons learned
  • Q&A session on the INLOCADE project
  • Input from Ricardo Kuelheim, Head of Component at Energy Transition Cooperation and Regulatory Policy Programme, GIZ
  • Concluding discussion moderated by Markus Lederer

11:15 Coffee break

11:45 Panel Discussion: Institutionalizing Energy Innovations in the Global South

  • Experts from Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, Bangladesh, and Cambodia discuss key findings, including similarities and differences, for energy transitions in country context

12:45 Critical Reflection and Open Discussion with the Audience

  • From institutionalization to transformation: Moderated discussion with engagement from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, particularly national delegates from the intersessionals

13:30 Networking Lunch

  • Informal discussions between participants, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers

 

Hinweis

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