Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this discussion. My name is Tania Sanchis, from the LGBTI stakeholder group and I speak on behalf of the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism.
When we speak about renewable energy, we often focus on scaling technologies. But across our region, the real question is also about power. Who controls energy systems, who benefits from them, and who is left behind.
We are seeing that energy is increasingly shaped by geopolitics and conflict. Energy infrastructure is targeted, access is disrupted, and resources are used as tools of political pressure. This directly undermines progress on SDG7 and reminds us that sustainable development cannot be separated from peace and respect for international law.
At the same time, the transition itself is not automatically just. Large-scale renewable projects can reproduce the same extractive patterns we are trying to move away from. Communities are displaced and corporate interests are prioritised over human rights. We are also seeing fast-track decision-making that overrides democratic processes, with people facing pressure to defend their land and livelihoods.
This is happening in a context where structural inequalities remain deeply embedded. Energy poverty continues to affect millions across Europe. Around 42 million people cannot keep their homes warm in winter, and women are disproportionately affected due to income gaps, care responsibilities, and unequal access to resources. If we do not address these root inequalities, the benefits of renewable energy will not reach those who need them most.
We also need to recognise the growing influence of disinformation and political narratives around renewable energy. Across the region, we are seeing the rise of petrol populism, where rising energy prices are used to justify continued fossil fuel dependence and new subsidies. In the context of the current energy crisis, including price shocks linked to conflict in our neighbouring region, governments are under pressure to expand fossil fuel support as a short-term response.
We also need to name a fast-growing driver of energy demand: AI infrastructure. UN reporting notes there are 476 million Indigenous Peoples across 90 countries, and warns that without safeguards, AI can deepen existing harms. As data centres expand, their electricity and water use increases pressure on grids and ecosystems and when projects affect Indigenous territories without free, prior and informed consent, they can undermine rights. A just transition must ensure digital expansion does not come at the expense of Indigenous, rural, queer and other multi-marginalised communities.
Finally, we must respect ecological limits. Expanding renewable energy cannot mean expanding extraction indefinitely. Without clear safeguards, the transition risks driving new forms of environmental harm and what many communities are already calling ecocide.
So what does this mean in practice?
First, we need to invest in decentralised, community-led energy systems. These approaches build trust, improve access, and ensure that benefits are shared locally.
Second, we must end fossil fuel subsidies and review energy pricing systems so that they reflect social and environmental realities.
Third, participation must be meaningful. Communities must be involved from the beginning, not after decisions have already been made. Civic space must be protected, and those defending their rights must be safe.
Fourth, we need stronger transparency and accountability. h. We need enforceable standards that ensure that renewable energy projects respect human rights.
And finally, we must align energy policy with ecological limits, recognising that sustainability is not only about carbon, but also about biodiversity, land, and long-term planetary boundaries.
If we want to achieve SDG7, renewable energy must be rooted in justice, in rights, and in trust.