(Dubai-COP28 12.5.23) Today’s unveiling of a global fusion strategy at the Atlantic Council Energy Forum by John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate presses for an all hands approach to unlocking the promise of a clean, available and universal source of energy, but will all nations and people benefit equally? Following on from the White House 2022 Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy, the White House identifies five overarching goals for its new International Partnerships in Fusion Energy Strategy to:
- Share Fusion R&D insights in order to acceleate fusion's development
- Grow a future global marketplace for fusion
- Coordinate on regulatory frameworks to ensure a secure environment for fusion energy
- Foster and strengthen a diverse and global workforce pipeline
- Improve public education and engagement in fusion energy
“This strategy moves us from theory to deployment phase,” said President of Energy for the Common Good, Jane Hotchkiss. “Since its founding, Energy for the Common Good has worked to build fusion for all, engaging communities and constituencies to ensure integrity and democratization of fusion energy for the common good. We need fusion to benefit all people of the world, not just elites, and that all communities gain access in years – not decades.”
ECG has been an important voice for fusion and has hosted fusion events at COP since the first inclusion of fusion at COP26. ECG knows that the importance of preparing local communities for the shift in energy towards fusion and the importance of renewable energy sources cannot be overstated. Kerry remarked in today’s announcement that the world is “edging ever closer to a fusion-powered reality.” As fusion emerges from its research and development phase, the time is now to advance energy equity. Let’s commit to democratizing fusion energy and supporting energy democracy for marginalized communities. Let’s engage the public ahead of commercial fusion. Let’s make sure public input on upcoming decisions and regulations is solicited. Let’s give local communities the voice they deserve in this remarkable global transition to clean energy we embark upon together!
If we fail to do this important community-building work ahead of fusion’s deployment to the grid, we are doomed to repeat past mistakes. The risks include a slowdown of deployment as the result of the local community resistance to unknown technology and, in the worst case scenario, of new “sacrifice zones,” zones where the energy industry disproportionately negatively affects local underserved communities to the detriment of their health and autonomy. We need to ensure that the public 1) is informed through independent sources about the benefits and risks of a fusion and renewables energy ecosystem, 2) has access to skills, training, and job opportunities, 3) has access to abundant, safe, clean, and peaceful energy from local fusion devices, 4) engages with developing appropriate regulation of fusion to ensure people’s safety and well being, and 5) has the right to clean air, land, and water.
Kerry emphasized during his announcement that climate change “is a human challenge. It is as existential as described. All life is threatened.” The Biden Administration’s announcement today points towards a much-needed collaborative response to climate change between engineers and scientists, policymakers, and fusion industry stakeholders. Energy for the Common Good is focused on the system overhaul necessary to ensure energy is accessible and affordable. We continually encourage leaders to consider public perspectives during the transition to clean energy. As the global public is introduced to fusion energy’s remarkable potential and benefits at COP28, ECG works to ensure that the gaps in the efforts to engage the public on the deployment of fusion are filled soon enough to make a difference.
Energy for the Common Good is supported by people who are interested in the democratization of fusion energy versus business as usual, and want to help to prevent the capture of fusion by the selective few. More information can be found here.