Phasing out fossil fuels at the necessary pace to meet climate targets demands systemic transformations involving governments, financial institutions, industries, and civil society. However, existing policies, economic incentives, and power structures often hinder such transitions. In this conference, we aim to analyse and reimagine financial flows, governance structures, and legal frameworks to enable an equitable shift away from fossil fuel dependence.

This conference will provide a space to critically engage with dominant narratives surrounding the energy transition and explore alternatives. The discussions will address key questions such as: What role do investors and financial institutions play in either perpetuating or dismantling fossil fuel dependency? How can justice considerations be better integrated into decision-making processes? 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.