With the February 2025 deadline for “third generation” Nationally Determined Contributions approaching, a side event tackled turning COP 28’s Global Stocktake decision on phasing out fossil fuels into reality, focusing on overcoming obstacles while ensuring a just transition.

Concluding three days of considering a broad range of recommendations from the Special Policy Studies, CCICED members and other participants were ready to tackle the 2024/25 period and the new set of eight agreed research themes.

In close to 20 sessions, ministers and stakeholders held a variety of discussions on incentivizing action toward realizing SDG7 in line with net-zero goals. Among other issues, sessions focused on ensuring Africa's critical mineral resources benefit Africans, gender equity in the energy transition, and how energy could be addressed in a post-2030 agenda.

Participants lauded the progress made in improving energy access and boosting renewables, but emphasized the world is still not on track to achieve SDG7.