towards energy sovereignty

Energy sovereignty is the right for all peoples to have access to sufficient energy within ecological limits from appropriate sustainable sources for a dignified life. Energy sovereignty is the decentralised control and management of energy by communities for communities. Energy sovereignty is the right of peoples to decide over their sustainable consumption patterns that will lead them towards sustainable societies.

The following conditions are required to achieve energy sovereignty and are aspects of our international program on climate and energy, implemented by our national member groups across the world:

• > community empowerment and informed control over their energy needs is integral for both sustainability and equity
• > community control of technologies avoiding privatised technological dependency, including decentralisation of energy generation, supply, administration and management
• > increased democratisation of decision-making and access to control of energy production, with prioritisation of community and local government decision making
• > governments must regulate the price of energy sources and recognise the social and environmental value of sustainable energy sources and generation
• > local governments must accept both the rights and responsibilities to provide sufficient sustainable renewable energy opportunities
• > custodial rights and responsibilities of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities must be recognised and protected in land rights and customary law.

Friends of the Earth member groups are working towards the realisation of energy sovereignty through proactive community based campaigns and projects. We also continue to resist the false energy solutions such as oil, coal and gas, uranium, agrofuels and large hydropower.

Friends of the Earth International challenges the influence of the World Bank, the WTO, multinationals such as Exxon and Shell and international financial institutions