Renewable energy policy and public participation in the North and South: Germany and Argentina cases

The decision to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels to renewables was considered a landmark achievement at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. This includes the pledge to tripling renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. Many countries have advanced in their renewable energy deployment and set further ambitious targets, some stronger than others. Beyond the environmental benefits, the expansion of renewable energy technologies and phase out of fossil fuels is associated with social and economic benefits determining policy decisions. Indeed, energy policies and regulations from countries of the global north (often) serve as blueprints for strategies in the global south. Yet, different social and economic challenges in emerging economies may require more adapted approaches. Indeed, energy policies appear crucial in ensuring a just transition delivering benefits for alleviating energy poverty, generate employment opportunities, and stimulate regional economic development. In this paper, we will delve into the ramifications of energy policies and regulations, particularly concerning distinct social and economic aspects such as energy security, labour market developments, and the public's acceptance of transition measures. To this purpose we draw on a case study comparison of Germany and Argentina in order to explore policy designs, strategies and their respective social-economic impacts. We want to explore what energy policies are applied in Germany and Argentina to foster the energy transition and how they delivered on selected socio-economic indicators, specifically relevant in the context of an emerging economy such as Argentina. Hereby, we are guided by the overall question of can policies from Germany address Argentina’s expectations associated with the energy transition? More precisely, our focus lies in the analysis of renewable energy policies, with a particular emphasis on examining how these policies facilitate public participation. We explore why public involvement remains crucial for a swift transition in Germany and assess its potential significance in the context of Argentina. Additionally, we investigate the instruments that could be employed in Argentina to encourage such public participation.