SUS-POL
@suspol.bsky.social
The SUS-POL research programme at the University of Sussex is exploring a radical new approach to climate governance: one that centres fossil fuel production.
For more info, visit: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/projects/sus-pol/about
For more info, visit: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/projects/sus-pol/about
Building clean energy is essential. But so is the deliberate, managed decline of fossil fuels.
Without both, the transition risks becoming an expansion, not a transformation.
🔗Read the full piece here: nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...
Without both, the transition risks becoming an expansion, not a transformation.
🔗Read the full piece here: nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...
We Cannot Lose Sight of Phasing Out Fossil Fuels
Phasing out the use of fossil fuels, not just simply rebuilding low-carbon systems, should be the goal of COP30.
nationalinterest.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Building clean energy is essential. But so is the deliberate, managed decline of fossil fuels.
Without both, the transition risks becoming an expansion, not a transformation.
🔗Read the full piece here: nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...
Without both, the transition risks becoming an expansion, not a transformation.
🔗Read the full piece here: nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...
5️⃣ A just transition depends on workers.
People in fossil fuel sectors need real, supported pathways into the low-carbon economy.
They’re the ones who will build the new system, not be left behind by it.
People in fossil fuel sectors need real, supported pathways into the low-carbon economy.
They’re the ones who will build the new system, not be left behind by it.
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
5️⃣ A just transition depends on workers.
People in fossil fuel sectors need real, supported pathways into the low-carbon economy.
They’re the ones who will build the new system, not be left behind by it.
People in fossil fuel sectors need real, supported pathways into the low-carbon economy.
They’re the ones who will build the new system, not be left behind by it.
4️⃣ There are opportunities in managed decline.
Decommissioning creates jobs, innovation, and regional renewal.
Building this capacity alongside renewables makes economic and climate sense.
Decommissioning creates jobs, innovation, and regional renewal.
Building this capacity alongside renewables makes economic and climate sense.
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
4️⃣ There are opportunities in managed decline.
Decommissioning creates jobs, innovation, and regional renewal.
Building this capacity alongside renewables makes economic and climate sense.
Decommissioning creates jobs, innovation, and regional renewal.
Building this capacity alongside renewables makes economic and climate sense.
3️⃣ Breaking fossil fuel systems takes time.
These infrastructures are massive, global, and built for endless growth, not decline.
The work of dismantling them must begin now, not “later.”
These infrastructures are massive, global, and built for endless growth, not decline.
The work of dismantling them must begin now, not “later.”
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
3️⃣ Breaking fossil fuel systems takes time.
These infrastructures are massive, global, and built for endless growth, not decline.
The work of dismantling them must begin now, not “later.”
These infrastructures are massive, global, and built for endless growth, not decline.
The work of dismantling them must begin now, not “later.”
2️⃣ You can’t skip the fight.
“Build now, break later” dodges the confrontation with fossil fuel incumbents.
These firms are resisting transition, protecting profits, and keeping economies hooked on coal, oil and gas.
They won’t give up power willingly - they must be pushed.
“Build now, break later” dodges the confrontation with fossil fuel incumbents.
These firms are resisting transition, protecting profits, and keeping economies hooked on coal, oil and gas.
They won’t give up power willingly - they must be pushed.
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
2️⃣ You can’t skip the fight.
“Build now, break later” dodges the confrontation with fossil fuel incumbents.
These firms are resisting transition, protecting profits, and keeping economies hooked on coal, oil and gas.
They won’t give up power willingly - they must be pushed.
“Build now, break later” dodges the confrontation with fossil fuel incumbents.
These firms are resisting transition, protecting profits, and keeping economies hooked on coal, oil and gas.
They won’t give up power willingly - they must be pushed.
1️⃣ Renewables are adding, not replacing.
Global energy demand keeps rising. Clean energy is expanding the mix, but fossil fuel use is still increasing.
To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, renewables must displace fossil fuels, not just add to them.
Global energy demand keeps rising. Clean energy is expanding the mix, but fossil fuel use is still increasing.
To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, renewables must displace fossil fuels, not just add to them.
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
1️⃣ Renewables are adding, not replacing.
Global energy demand keeps rising. Clean energy is expanding the mix, but fossil fuel use is still increasing.
To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, renewables must displace fossil fuels, not just add to them.
Global energy demand keeps rising. Clean energy is expanding the mix, but fossil fuel use is still increasing.
To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, renewables must displace fossil fuels, not just add to them.
“Build now, break later” means scaling up renewables first and only later dismantling fossil fuel systems.
But delaying phase-out is a dangerous gamble - on a “later” that a warming world may not grant us.
But delaying phase-out is a dangerous gamble - on a “later” that a warming world may not grant us.
November 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
“Build now, break later” means scaling up renewables first and only later dismantling fossil fuel systems.
But delaying phase-out is a dangerous gamble - on a “later” that a warming world may not grant us.
But delaying phase-out is a dangerous gamble - on a “later” that a warming world may not grant us.
A global fossil phase-out must engage with the politics of energy transitions, not just the economics.
Only then can fairness and the 1.5°C goal go hand in hand. 🤝
Check out the full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
And the blog here: www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Only then can fairness and the 1.5°C goal go hand in hand. 🤝
Check out the full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
And the blog here: www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Reconciling the right to develop with leaving fossil fuels underground in the Global South
To address climate change, supply-side action and policy are urgently needed for leaving fossil fuels underground. Low- and Middle-Income Countries ho…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A global fossil phase-out must engage with the politics of energy transitions, not just the economics.
Only then can fairness and the 1.5°C goal go hand in hand. 🤝
Check out the full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
And the blog here: www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Only then can fairness and the 1.5°C goal go hand in hand. 🤝
Check out the full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
And the blog here: www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
The authors call for a reframing of the right to development as a right to sustainable development, anchored in justice, equity, and democratic control over resources. ⚖️
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The authors call for a reframing of the right to development as a right to sustainable development, anchored in justice, equity, and democratic control over resources. ⚖️
Their study of 127 countries maps seven rationales for the right to develop - from fossil-fuel dependency to pathways for phase-out - revealing sharp differences within the Global South. 📶
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Their study of 127 countries maps seven rationales for the right to develop - from fossil-fuel dependency to pathways for phase-out - revealing sharp differences within the Global South. 📶
Heras, Rammelt & Gupta show that the “Right to Development” isn’t fixed it’s an ideograph, a flexible idea used to defend extraction or argue for sustainable transformation. 💡
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Heras, Rammelt & Gupta show that the “Right to Development” isn’t fixed it’s an ideograph, a flexible idea used to defend extraction or argue for sustainable transformation. 💡
The Global South holds 78% of fossil reserves. For many states, fossil fuels promise growth but bring risks - stranded assets, instability, and climate damage. 🛢️
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The Global South holds 78% of fossil reserves. For many states, fossil fuels promise growth but bring risks - stranded assets, instability, and climate damage. 🛢️
Phase-out clubs won’t deliver 1.5°C alone - but they’re shaping climate politics in ways we can’t ignore.
Full analysis 👉 www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Full paper from Koppenborg here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Full analysis 👉 www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Full paper from Koppenborg here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Fossil fuel phase-out clubs: the new kid on the block in climate governance?
As global climate negotiations struggle with the urgency of phasing out fossil fuels, a new form of climate governance has emerged: phase-out clubs.
www.sussex.ac.uk
August 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Phase-out clubs won’t deliver 1.5°C alone - but they’re shaping climate politics in ways we can’t ignore.
Full analysis 👉 www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Full paper from Koppenborg here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Full analysis 👉 www.sussex.ac.uk/research/pro...
Full paper from Koppenborg here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🥊 The trade-off: Full phase-outs are politically harder than “phase-downs.” Future club design needs to balance ambition with political feasibility
August 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
🥊 The trade-off: Full phase-outs are politically harder than “phase-downs.” Future club design needs to balance ambition with political feasibility
📶 Bigger clubs aren’t always weaker. The GMP is large and strong - challenging assumptions about “watering down” commitments
August 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
📶 Bigger clubs aren’t always weaker. The GMP is large and strong - challenging assumptions about “watering down” commitments
💪 Effectiveness varies:
Global Methane Pledge (GMP) → strong design, clear targets, broad membership ✅
Others (like Zero Routine Flaring) → weak obligations & compliance ❌
Global Methane Pledge (GMP) → strong design, clear targets, broad membership ✅
Others (like Zero Routine Flaring) → weak obligations & compliance ❌
August 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
💪 Effectiveness varies:
Global Methane Pledge (GMP) → strong design, clear targets, broad membership ✅
Others (like Zero Routine Flaring) → weak obligations & compliance ❌
Global Methane Pledge (GMP) → strong design, clear targets, broad membership ✅
Others (like Zero Routine Flaring) → weak obligations & compliance ❌
💬 They have influenced global talks: methane & coal language now appear in COP decisions, thanks in part to these clubs. Agenda-setting power matters!
August 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
💬 They have influenced global talks: methane & coal language now appear in COP decisions, thanks in part to these clubs. Agenda-setting power matters!
🤝 They don’t compete with the Paris Agreement - they implement it. These phase-out clubs raise awareness, set agendas, and push for ambition in UNFCCC negotiations.
August 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
🤝 They don’t compete with the Paris Agreement - they implement it. These phase-out clubs raise awareness, set agendas, and push for ambition in UNFCCC negotiations.