Energy transition of highly fossil fuel-dependent developing countries through transitional fuels in international climate change law

To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, energy transition is inevitable. Among countries, highly fossil-fuel-dependent developing countries (HFFDDCs) face certain limitations in the energy transition due to economic structural problems and heavy dependence on fossil fuels. Controversially, transitional fuels are considered an option to overcome these limitations. The importance of developing transition fuels, such as natural gas, as a bridge between fossil fuels and renewable fuels in HFFDDCs, is that it allows achieving the goals of the climate change regime through energy transition while also respecting the different national requirements of HFFDDCs. The main question is how legal foundations will enable them to develop transitional fuels and what this will contribute to the discussion on energy transition. Based on a doctrinal and normative legal research methodology, this research shows that not only are transitional fuels not obstacles in the energy transition, but that they can also facilitate an equitable energy transition in HFFDDCs. Legal foundations such as equity, poverty eradication and the right to development, included in the Paris Agreement, support HFFDDCs in using transitional fuels to go through the energy transition process sustainably and equitably. The use of transitional fuels in the short and medium term, until the obstacles to the development of renewable energies are removed, can provide the opportunity for achieving a just energy transition for HFFDDCs.