Beacons of Hope: Turning Energy Blind Spots Into Actionable Bright Spots

The world is no longer at peace. To misquote Mark Twain, whisky is for drinking, energy is too important to fight over. The whole world energy system needs to be rewired. A return to people-centric, pragmatic energy agendas is essential to avoid ideologically polarising races to net zero, tipping the balance towards war.

Energy transitions are often framed as technical and economic challenges—about megawatts, investments, and emissions targets. But world and country energy systems are deeply human in nature. They shape and are shaped by people’s lives, livelihoods and communities. Yet, most energy roadmaps, as well as the language of energy, neglect the human dimensions of change, leading to societal resistance, economic and social inequities, and missed opportunities.

If we want to unlock the full potential of energy transformations and ensure progress just, orderly and far-reaching energy technology transitions in all regions, we must confront four systemic blind-spots that continue to undermine progress:

1. Energy transitions must serve people, not just markets and technology                                                                                    Too often, the focus is on the source of energy, infrastructure and decarbonisation, while wellbeing, labour transitions, and informal energy economies remain afterthoughts. Energy is much more than a commodity—it should be revalued as an enabler of dignified, healthy, and prosperous lives. Solutions like community-owned power systems, workforce training and reskilling, and transition funds that promote win-win, co-benefits help create a better way forward.
2. Energy governance must be adaptive, inclusive, and decentralised                                                                                      Centralised, overly technocratic decision-making sidelines local knowledge, cultural contexts, and future generations. The result? Policies that don’t reflect lived realities and fail to gain public trust, and a loss of “social license to operate” for energy firms. Energy systems include people and communities and envisioning the shift to abundance is not easy.   Success requires a move away from traditional top-down models of governance, to using a more flexible and integrated framework and pluralistic models, which include the roles of cities, localised industries and youth participation. This is essential for more responsible, resilient and regenerative energy transitions. Yes - it is uncomfortable and “messy” to involve many players to drive change. Yet, implementing orderly, clean and just energy transitions is best achieved by inspiring and engaging more people and diverse communities, bridging industry sectors and policy silos, and enabling learning across geographies, genders and generations.
3. Energy systems must balance the World Energy Trilemma, not optimise single issues                                                    Focusing on a single priority—whether energy security, affordability, or environmental sustainability—leads to short-sighted policies and unintended consequences. A balanced transition provides a stable operating environment for both producers and consumers, but achieving it requires holistic approaches that integrate each priority in equilibrium. From a new vision of energy security priorities to an evolved concept of sustainability that embraces circular economy or regenerative solutions, a system-wide perspective – one that includes users and communities – is essential.
4. Energy wisdom and good decision-making must be co-created, not imposed                                                                Communities are often treated as needing top-down education, rather than recognised as knowledge-holders with valuable lived experience. Instead of imposed solutions, co-created energy futures and peer learning can build trust and drive real, lasting engagement. If we continue down the current path, energy transitions will entrench existing inequalities and create new ones. But by addressing these four blind-spots, we can move towards an energy future that is not just low-carbon, but also fair, inclusive, and transformative.

As poet Amanda Gorman reminds us, even in the darkest moments, “there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”

The quality, rather than volume, of energy transitions dialogues and collaborations can be that light—but only if we choose to make them human and learn to exercise human collective wisdom in making wiser choices.

The question is no longer whether new power systems will happen—it is who they will serve - and how they are scaled with a growing diversity of circular supply chains and a greater mix of clean energy friends.