24-26 NOvember 2025
CLIFF Conference
New Narratives for Leaving Fossil Fuels Underground
The final CLIFF Conference has unfortunately already ended, but we'd like to thank everyone that assisted in the organisation and everyone that attended!
About the Event
The CLIFF project investigates equitable pathways for phasing out fossil fuels by examining key investors, institutions, and policies that shape decisions around Leaving Fossil Fuels Underground (LFFU). This conference will bring together experts from multiple sectors and disciplines to explore the challenges, justice implications, and strategies required to accelerate a just transition.
This conference will provide a space to critically engage with dominant narratives surrounding the energy transition and explore alternatives.
1
What role do investors and financial institutions play in either perpetuating or dismantling fossil fuel dependency?
2
How can justice considerations be better integrated into decision-making processes?
3
What legal and regulatory changes are needed to facilitate a rapid and fair transition?
By bringing together policymakers, academics, industry representatives, and civil society actors, the event seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and generate actionable insights. Participants will examine the intersection of climate justice, stranded assets, litigation, and governance, with the goal of identifying strategies to realign financial and political structures with climate imperatives. The conference will also highlight the role of countervailing powers—social movements, legal activists, and local governments—in challenging entrenched interests and pushing for systemic change. Special attention will be given to the perspectives of the Global South, acknowledging the different constraints and opportunities faced by low- and middle-income countries in the fossil fuel phase-out.
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Agenda
Day 1
24 November
9:25 - 11:00
Session 1
The Current Politics of Climate Change and Justice: Part 1
How can we counter the current politics and injustices of the climate change regime to reach 1.5℃ and leave fossil fuel underground?
Joyeeta Gupta
11:45 - 13:00
Session 2
The Current Politics of Climate Change and Justice: Part 2
Why have diplomatic processes failed us and what can be done to enhance the diplomatic processes on climate, energy and development?
Joyeeta Gupta
14:00 - 15:30
Session 3
The politics of the energy transition with a focus on leaving fossil fuels underground
Given that phasing out fossil fuel is essential to enable a transition to renewables, what is the role of fossil companies and infrastructure in LFFU and how can they be held accountable?
Nina Herzog-Hawelka & Yang Chen
16:00 - 17:30
Session 4
The challenges facing low and middle-income countries in phasing out fossil fuels
Considering the historical climate negotiation process, what are the options for low- and middle-income countries (taking into account their huge FF resources in LFFU) and how can LFFU be promoted in these countries? Can they leapfrog ahead rather than become locked-into a fossil fuel economy? How can this be encouraged?
Augusto Heras
Day 2
25 November
9:15 - 10:45
Session 5
Coherence in Financial Flows - The Role of Investors: Part 1
How do we align financial flows and hold investors accountable in terms of LFFU?
Clara McDonnell, Frank de Morrée & Moataz Yakan Talaat
11:15 - 12:45
Session 6
Coherence in Financial Flows - The Role of Investors: Part 2
How do we align financial flows and hold investors accountable in terms of LFFU?
Clara McDonnell, Frank de Morrée & Moataz Yakan Talaat
13:45 - 15:15
Session 7
The Role of Global Social Movements is Essential for LFFU
What is the role of social movements and litigation in promoting leaving fossil fuels underground? How can science inform social movements in this process?
Nina Herzog-Hawelka & Opal Morales Asencio
15:45 - 16:45
Session 8
Scenario workshop: Futures Thinking for Keeping Fossil Fuels Underground
How can we develop scenarios for leaving fossil fuels underground?
Nicholas King
16:45 - 17:00
Closing
Lessons Learnt thus far
Joyeeta Gupta
Day 3
26 November
9:15 - 10:45
Session 9
Keynote
“Innovation Isn’t Enough: Decarbonisation Needs Behaviour Change”
Frenk van Harreveld
Roundtable
How can Social Movements Mobilize Change?
Maien Sachistal
11:00 - 12:00
Session 10
Forum
Five presentations on “How can we change people’s behaviour?“
12:00 - 13:00
Session 11
Roundtable
Legal Certainty and Climate Action: How EU Regulatory Volatility Undermines Fossil Fuel Phase-Out
Sarah Boucho
14:00 - 15:15
Session 12
Forum
Six Presentations on ‘Decarbonization: Challenges and Opportunities’
15:15 - 16:30
Session 13
Roundtable
Decarbonization and Alternatives for Extractivism
Nikkie Wiegink
16:30 - 17:00
Closing
Lessons Learnt
Anke Wonneberger
Discover the full agenda!
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About
The CLIFF project was financed by the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Grant agreement: No. 101020082
Quick Links
Contact
+31 20 5254366
J.Gupta@uva.nl
Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WS Amsterdam