MENA Fem Movement for Economical, Development and Ecological Justice
ActivitiesBlogCancel Debts

São Paulo Public Finance Convening For a Just Energy Transition

From September 12 to 14, 2023, Unibes Cultural in São Paulo, Brazil, hosted the São Paulo Public Finance Convening. Organized by the GGON and CAN-Intl public finance working group in collaboration with various stakeholders, this event aimed to address the challenges posed by the climate and inequality crises. This article provides a comprehensive summary of the event, highlighting its objectives, methodological choices, main topics, and contributions made by participating organizations. The report serves as a valuable reference for future discussions, meetings, and participatory activities.

Objectives of the Convening

Against the backdrop of escalating climate and inequality crises, the convening focused on the role of public finance in fostering a just energy transition. The GGON and CAN-Intl public finance working group, in conjunction with entities like the Big Shift Global coalition, Glasgow Statement working group, ECA coalitions, regional climate justice networks, and organization, convened a diverse group of civil society organizations including MenaFem Movement.

The primary goal was to collectively work towards ending public finance for fossil fuels and ensuring that governments and institutions actively support a climate-safe, just, and equitable energy transition. The scope of “public finance” encompassed both financial flows and policies related to government-owned finance institutions (public banks) and broader government finances, including tax, trade, monetary, and debt policies at domestic, regional, and international levels. Although the gathering had a global focus, efforts were made to incorporate a bottom-up approach, informed by local and domestic priorities.

Main Themes and Focus of the Meeting

The convening strategically organized its discussions into three working group tracks to provide a focused approach:

  1. Exploring New Strategies: The first track emphasized the exploration and prioritization of innovative strategies related to tax, debt, and monetary policies aimed at phasing out fossil fuels while ensuring funding for a just transition.
  2. Shared Vision and Narrative: The second track concentrated on developing a shared vision, narrative, and priority strategies for transformative, equitable, and increased public finance to support a just energy transition.
  3. Campaign Strategies for Public Finance Institutions: The third track involved updating key strategies for public finance institution campaigns with the overarching goal of halting funding for fossil fuels and identifying new areas of coordination.

Attending Organizations

  • Note: some organization names have been omitted for security reasons
  • 350Africa.org
  • 350.org
  • AbibiNsroma Foundation
  • Alerte Congolaise pour l’environnement et les droits de l’homme (ACEDH)
  • Alternate Law Collective
  • Argentina 1,5ºC
  • Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
  • Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia
  • Association Talassemtane pour l’environnement et le développement (ATED)
  • Both ENDS
  • CAN Canada
  • CEE Bank watch Network
  • Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)
  • Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
  • Centre for Environmental Rights
  • Centre for Financial Accountability
  • Centro de Políticas Públicas para el Socialismo (CEPPAS)
  • Christian Aid
  • Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN)
  • Instituto ClimaInfo
  • Climate Action Network International
  • Climate Emergency Collaboration Group
  • Climate Watch Thailand
  • Conectas Direitos Humanos
  • E3G
  • Energy Transition Fund
  • Environment Governance Institute Uganda (EGI)
  • Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa
  • Friends of the Earth International
  • Friends of the Earth Japan
  • Friends of the Earth United States
  • Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN)
  • Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación
  • Global Gas & Oil Network
  • Growald Climate Fund
  • Grupo de Financiamiento Climático para Latinoamérica y el Caribe (GFLAC)
  • Instituto de Estudos Socioeconômicos (INESC)
  • International Institute for Sustainable Development
  • Jubilee Australia Research Centre
  • Lumière Synergie pour le Développement
  • Mena Fem Movement for Economic, Development and Ecological Justice
  • Milieudefensie
  • Movimiento Ríos Vivos
  • Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
  • NGO Forum on ADB
  • Observatoire de la souveraineté alimentaire et de l’environnement
  • Observatorio de Ecología Política de Venezuela
  • Oil Change International
  • Oil Watch Africa
  • Pooled Fund for International Energy
  • ReCommon
  • Recourse
  • Red de comunidades impactadas por IFIs
  • Sociedad y Naturaleza
  • Solutions for our Climate
  • Stockholm Environment Institute
  • Tara Climate Foundation
  • The Bretton Woods Project
  • Trend Asia
  • Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI)
  • Waterkeepers Bangladesh (WKB)