SEI INITIATIVE

The SEI Initiative on Fossil Fuels and Climate Change, launched in January 2015, aims to research and influence the supply side of fossil fuel development to align with a 2°C global warming limit. The initiative focuses on the emissions implications of infrastructure, the political economy of extraction, and the role of international governance. It utilizes case studies in Colombia, South Africa, Indonesia, Norway, and the U.S. to explore the transition away from fossil fuel dependence.

• The SEI Initiative on Fossil Fuels and Climate Change was launched in January 2015 with two primary goals: understanding the factors that drive or hinder fossil fuel development and influencing investment and policy decisions to ensure such development is consistent with sustainable development.
• To limit global warming to 2°C, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned in 2013 that approximately two-thirds of proven oil, gas, and coal reserves must remain undeveloped. However, the IEA also noted that planned fossil fuel infrastructure slated for completion by 2017 could lock in the remaining allowable CO2 emissions for a 2°C limit through 2035.
• Investment in fossil fuels remains dominant despite the rise of renewables; in 2013, approximately 70% of energy supply investment, exceeding 1 trillion USD, was directed toward fossil fuel extraction, processing, transport, or power plant construction.
• The initiative focuses on the emissions implications of fossil fuel supply infrastructure, such as mines, refineries, and pipelines. SEI has specifically developed a method to quantify market impacts of supply expansion, which was piloted using the Keystone XL pipeline in the United States.
• The initiative employs political economy analysis to investigate why national governments might forgo fossil fuel extraction and the associated rents, considering the influence of large energy companies and the links between energy security and military security.
• The initiative examines the role of international institutions in governing the transition away from fossil fuels, noting that no single entity provides direct oversight. Key institutions mentioned include the IEA, OECD, OPEC, multilateral development banks, the WTO, and the UNFCCC, with the G20 focusing on phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.
• SEI is conducting case studies in Colombia, South Africa, Indonesia, Norway, and the U.S. to analyze the interplay between fossil fuel investments and low-carbon policies, specifically focusing on countries with significant coal or high-cost/unconventional oil resources.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2015). SEI INITIATIVE. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-FS-2015-Fossil-fuels-climate-mitigation-initiative.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. SEI INITIATIVE. 2015. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-FS-2015-Fossil-fuels-climate-mitigation-initiative.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=SEI INITIATIVE |date=2015 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-FS-2015-Fossil-fuels-climate-mitigation-initiative.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2015sei, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{SEI INITIATIVE}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2015}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-FS-2015-Fossil-fuels-climate-mitigation-initiative.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }