OUR STORY

Transforming a network into a structured movement: when intuition becomes mission.

After more than ten years of the network’s existence, a new step became clear: to channel this collective energy into a lasting organization. In 2009, the idea of creating an international solidarity association emerged, driven by the conviction that solutions must be designed with and for the world’s citizens.

Three key figures led this transformation: Stéphane POUFFARY, then Head of the International Expertise Unit for Energy Management at ADEME, with a dual background in engineering and anthropology; Paule EL KOUBI, philosopher and humanist; and Stéphane BOUISSOU, researcher in geothermal energy and sustainable food systems, then Director of the Master’s program in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (GEDD) at the University of Nice Côte-d’Azur.

Their efforts were supported by long-standing allies such as Stéphane QUEFELEC, then researcher at Plan Bleu, and Arab HOBALLAH, then Director at the United Nations Environment Programme.

Together, they laid the foundations of a structure that would retain both its independence and its global openness.

In April 2011, in a context marked by repeated social, economic, and environmental crises, and one year before the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit, ENERGIES 2050 was officially established as a non-profit association under French law.

From its very inception, the association affirmed a strong conviction: our development pathways are not inevitable. It advocates for the active involvement of all citizens in building resilient lifestyles that respect natural resources. Its uniqueness lies in combining high-level technical expertise with a deep commitment to international solidarity.

Long before it became the norm, we dared to connect the dots: environment, society, economy, culture, and politics.

From the very start, ENERGIES 2050 stood out by making a clear choice: to reject fragmented solutions and address change in all its complexity. In the early 2000s, adopting such a systemic approach, connecting environment, society, economy, culture, and politics was a pioneering vision, still rare in the sustainable development field.

The founding ambition was to challenge the so-called inevitabilities of climate change and to promote development that is both sustainable and inclusive, by understanding and linking all the dimensions that shape our societies.

This unique positioning emerged from the meeting of complementary skills and experiences, enriched over time by an increasingly diverse international network. From very early on, the association understood that environmental challenges can only be met by integrating local realities, crossing disciplines, and working transversally.

Whether in energy, biodiversity, sustainable construction, or climate justice, ENERGIES 2050 strives to integrate best practices and develop innovative, inclusive, and adaptable solutions. These solutions our “gold nuggets”are co-designed with and for communities so that they are both rooted in the field and replicable elsewhere.

From the very beginning, we made clear choices: to remain free, consistent, and accessible.

Recognized as a “doer,” ENERGIES 2050 defines itself through a project-based approach rooted in concrete action, where every initiative is measured, documented, and designed to deliver real and lasting impact. This demanding approach is built on rigorous ethics, full transparency, and steadfast independence as the association receives no operational subsidies.

Since our inception, we have refused to work with companies or public or private partners whose activities or funding do not meet our ethical criteria. This commitment ensures the coherence of our actions and safeguards our freedom to act.

True to our commitment to openness, we operated for many years without membership fees to allow the widest possible participation. Even today, our minimum membership fee remains deliberately modest compared to other international organizations, encouraging broad and inclusive involvement.

We work in complete alignment with our values, selecting our partners and projects according to clear, shared criteria to ensure that every commitment leads to tangible results. Our methods integrate impact measurement at every stage, providing accountability to our beneficiaries, partners, and the public on the effectiveness of our actions.

On the ground, this identity is reflected in projects co-created with communities, with full respect for local cultures, rights, and knowledge. In international arenas, it allows us to speak with credibility and legitimacy, grounded in lived experience and measurable outcomes.

From local to global, bottom-up and top-down: cooperation as a driver of transformation.

For ENERGIES 2050, building a sustainable future can only be done together. From the very beginning, the association anchored its work within a network of local, regional, and international alliances.

Inspired by the landmark decisions of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and by the Rio Conventions (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) as well as by numerous international, regional, and national multilateral agreements, ENERGIES 2050 has chosen to combine local action, rooted in on-the-ground realities, with global influence, capable of shaping decisions and international negotiations.

This approach is built on a dual dynamic:

(1) bottom-up (ascending approach), by co-creating specific solutions with communities to ensure they are adapted to local contexts;

(2) top-down (descending approach), by bringing these solutions and field insights into decision-making arenas to influence public policies and global strategies.

Over the years, ENERGIES 2050 has evolved into a true citizen-led laboratory for thought and action, where climate, ecology, energy, social inclusion, and international solidarity converge with the protection of minorities and Indigenous peoples, the promotion of art, culture, and heritage as drivers of change, and the deployment of innovative, inclusive, and replicable solutions. A place where, with and for communities, collective responses to today’s challenges are imagined and built. By harnessing the power of alliances, the organization unites a vast network of partners (international institutions, governments, local authorities, NGOs, universities, businesses, and citizens) pooling their resources and expertise to maximize the impact of every project.