Last month INSPIRE had the privilege of joining a powerful gathering of global energy justice leaders, practitioners and scholars in Medellín, Colombia for the Just Renewable Energy Think Camp.
The Think Camp was co-convened by the JustRE Alliance (of which INSPIRE is a founding partner) alongside the University of Michigan, and was facilitated by Shalanda Baker, a visionary leader in the field of energy justice.
The gathering created space to explore a series of deep, critical questions that sit at the heart of a just energy transition:
- What must be true for energy transitions to be genuinely just?
- How do we deploy renewables without replicating the systems of injustice we aim to dismantle?
- What must we unlearn to realise truly transformative energy futures?
Over the course of three days, participants from across the globe brought their knowledge, experiences, and hopes into collective dialogue. The process was deeply participatory, drawing on lived realities and academic insights to:
- Share case studies and lessons learned from diverse geographies and disciplines.
- Map the systems, power dynamics, and structural barriers that keep inequality in place.
- Co-create visions of energy systems that prioritise community agency, equity, and collective wellbeing.
INSPIRE was proudly represented by Masechaba Mabilu, Yumnaa Firfirey and our MD Holle Linnea Wlokas, who brought stories and reflections from South Africa’s own journey toward a just transition. Their contributions emphasised the need for community ownership, meaningful participation, and the centrality of trust in building alternative energy futures.
Throughout the Think Camp, participants didn’t shy away from complexity or contradiction. We celebrated small victories, acknowledged hard truths, and worked together to lay the foundations of something bigger—a growing movement rooted in trust, shared purpose, and clarity about why this work matters.
The team returned from Medellín re-energised, reminded that energy justice is not just a technical goal—it’s a collective commitment to reimagining how power is generated, distributed, and shared in society.
To everyone who made this experience possible—thank you for your care, courage, and connection. The work continues!
