Ownership and Vested Interests in Energy Transitions: The Role of Non-State Actors in Sustainability Governance

Abstract

This panel focuses on the non-state actors who aim to steer energy transitions, and the structures by which they are able to do so. It encompasses fossil fuel and heavy industry actors who are able to make institutions work to their advantage, capturing financial benefits and extracting rents. This is visible in CCS in the European Union, coal in Indonesia, and the broader financial system, which continues to support fossil capital despite pressure from civil society. At the same time, the panel also suggests that “cleaner” systems may reproduce winner-takes-most dynamics, with private actors capturing value. This concentration may occur through centralized data infrastructures, dominated by Big Tech, and integrated ownership structures in energy, mobility, and housing. Yet, importantly, ownership and control are shaped not only by technological design but also by political ideologies. This means that who controls, benefits from, and participates in these systems is not fixed and can be challenged. Together, these cases highlight how power operates across both traditional and emerging energy systems, emphasizing the importance of examining non-state actors and their interactions with institutions to understand how energy transitions unfold and whose interests they serve.

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