GOOD ENERGY BAD ENERGY? TRANSFORMING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International argues that the global energy system is unsustainable and unjust, driven by corporate power and 'extractivism'. It advocates for a transition to a 'climate-safe, just and sustainable' system based on the principle of energy sovereignty, while warning against the risks of corporate capture during the shift to renewable energy.

• The current global energy system is characterized as unsustainable and unjust, with corporate and elite interests prevailing over ordinary citizens. A primary driver of this system is 'extractivism', an economic model rooted in the colonial-era exploitation and expropriation of natural resources in developing countries, further exacerbated by neoliberal policies that prioritize private profit over social and environmental concerns.
• Fossil fuel use is a dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for 57 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The document notes that the world burns the equivalent of 400 years of plant growth annually through the use of coal, oil, and gas.
• There are severe global disparities in energy access and consumption. Approximately 1.3 billion people (one fifth of the population) lack electricity, and 2.6 billion (nearly two fifths) lack clean cooking facilities. Consumption levels vary wildly; for example, in 2008, the US used 7,503 kg of oil-equivalent per person per year, compared to only 192 kg in Bangladesh.
• Various energy sources identified as 'clean' or alternative are described as having destructive impacts. These include nuclear power, where safe storage for waste (which must be stored for 1 million years) is unavailable; industrial agrofuels, which are linked to 66 per cent of land grabs in Africa; and waste-to-energy incinerators, which emit more carbon dioxide per unit of electricity than coal plants.
• The transition to renewable energy faces seven specific risks, including 'corporate capture' where companies influence policy for profit, the potential for renewable infrastructure to drive further land grabbing and human rights abuses, and the risk that the transition becomes a 'Trojan horse' for further energy privatisation.
• Friends of the Earth International proposes a vision for a just energy system based on 'energy sovereignty'—the right of people to access energy and choose sustainable sources. Key features of this system include being as small-scale and decentralised as possible, under direct democratic control, and ensuring the right to free, prior and informed consent for affected communities.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (n.d.). GOOD ENERGY BAD ENERGY? TRANSFORMING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Good-Energy-Bad-Energy-Summary.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. GOOD ENERGY BAD ENERGY? TRANSFORMING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. n.d. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Good-Energy-Bad-Energy-Summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=GOOD ENERGY BAD ENERGY? TRANSFORMING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Good-Energy-Bad-Energy-Summary.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternationalndgood, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{GOOD ENERGY BAD ENERGY? TRANSFORMING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Good-Energy-Bad-Energy-Summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }