The Formative Years

The practice Energy For One World was founded by the writing of the book with the same name. It was based on a most formative, learning if not adventurous career and 20+ years working experiences I gained within (Upstream) International BigOil, ie. the Shell Corporation and Energy Industry.

The quest of the book was simple:

How do we fuel 9 billion people sharing One Planet, reliably, affordably and sustainably, and stay out of trouble?

The essence of the book, was then and there, and thanks to the experiences gained 

Three key things mattered:

On the back of an envelope, and as we were looking over this century, we could not make the energy balance between (energy) supplies and demand meet.  The age of easy oil was coming to an end, and our geologists and explorationists shared the realities and the strength of our reserves and underground (“creaming curves”). With the rise of Asia and the Global South, it was difficult to see how this new growth in demand could be fuelled with the reserves and/or new cleantech solutions, and satisfy the hunger for energy needed over this century.

Another thing- that was evident and clear: The Energy Sector needed some healing from some historic grown poor habits or behaviours, and some re-organisations/ re-orientations- if it were to be able to make some room for the new (away from the politicking, lobby and interests) and allow for a peaceful , social just and great world energy realisations.

Add to that the UN 2030 (SDG) Agenda on Climate and our Planetary Boundaries.

It needed to find some new World View, Tone of Voice, and Ways of Working- with the New (Cleantech, Electrification).

From the start, I had the luck that Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands,  allowed me classes to speak, and to test and develop the thoughts from the book- in class rooms and working practice engagements. 

It was in these classes, now over a decade ago, that I met Dr Singh, and with a group of 25 ONGC staff- came to learn with us at Nyenrode, – from my working practice, and the ways of Europe Energy. 

In the years 2014 and 2015, and as the UN was preparing for this agenda (Agenda 2030, Paris Agreement), I had the luck of being in the Oslo, Norway community and in the circles of Prof. Jeffrey Sachs- on the UNSDGs. It was then and there that I commenced framing, what I then named “an Energy House”- a place where energy professionals across the board could meet, and could frame the more integrated and holistic “energy transition programs”- within the sector, a country or corporation and/or across nations and regions. It was also then that I started to opt for different roles and responsibilities for the BigOil Corporations- in the energy and energy transitions to come.

These plans- for an Energy House- were widely discussed within the Oslo Community, including the CEO of their State Oil Company (now Equinor), UNDP, UN Foundations and Elders, The City Council and Government Administration, the Oslo Business University and their Community of Innovators, Sustainability and Peace (Nobel Peace Prize) Experts. As a Dutch man,  I spend literally hours and hours and hours in meeting rooms, and to be interviewed and questioned about my proposed plans, programs and working ways. A matter of fun.

Let me thank the hospitality rendered by the Great Norwegian People and Norwegian Communities ! Robin Waaler and Prof Atle Midttun, of Oslo Business University, will be able to corroborate this.

In simple terms, and let me make it simple here- the reasons why this Energy For One World/ Energy House start-up (in Oslo, over the period 2013-2016) did not materialise, was the gap between the wantsand needs of the Oslo community that I was to make money with the venture, and I argued for a more not-for-profit charitable organisation: 

To do Good.! 

And to organize that!

Add to that- the self-believe (or some may call it : ignorance, indifference or – at times- even arrogance/aloofness) of some of the Leadership (in Government, in the BigOil Corporations, and – that they are best to decide, organize and lead these forms of more complex changes.

When the Paris Agreement  and the UNSDGs were signed and agreed – that  happened before my very eyes.

Now ten years later- I hope- we all know better. The program and plans then tabled by me, and in Oslo, would or could have prevented a lot of trouble, we see ourselves presently in. 

That I believe- or know- for sure!.

I left Oslo in the summer of 2016, and by some form of luck or providence, I was invited as a guest into the City of Assisi, Italy:

To learn from the writings by Pope Francis (Encyclical Laudato Si), to step in the shoes of St Francis and to be with the Order of St Francis.

On request of the Franciscans, I formulated  “a new bridge or ways” for the conversion and atonement of Corporate and Government Leadership, and based on Pope Francis Encyclical Laudato Si (/ and later ” Fratelli Tutti” ) , the spirit of Assisi ( “Peace”) and the UN Sustainable Development goals.

This 3-month experience has been “formative”- to me. As a born Protestant Christian, the teachings of Pope Francis touched me, and the freedom to walk and ponder in more beauty- within the realms of this small town Assisi- has provided me with another “piece of the puzzle” that belongs to Energy For One World.

A small booklet was written: “Tales of Conversion”- and with and in essence that also Countries and Corporations needed to convert onto the path of more Sustainable Development.

And the more subtle ways to achieve that, that was my insight  ,”message”,  I wrote from Assisi-to Open the Doors in and between–  is through “the Heart”. (Not only by our minds, or narrow rational, scientific approach).

It was also in Assisi, that I embraced my new “poverty” and “the throwing off the mantle of greed or material wealth”: The difference between “Energy an Universal Utility and Powering Human Lives” versus “Energy-  a means to Profit From, and Power Over People”

As I left Assisi, I called and felt myself- for a short while- “an Energy Priest”, and embraced the (care for) “Deep Peace, Deep Humanity, Deep Ecology.

Back in the Netherlands, I made some serious attempts to re-start and organize the work and learnings from Oslo and Assisi- with the Shell Group, Business University, Institutes and our Ministries.

I will spare you here all the details- but the essence is and was: The people and professionals appeared to be much more inward looking, busy with themselves and their own programs,  then to be open for some proposals or lessons learned over this practice,  lifetime-  and in the more international arena.- and how to re-organize things to work a little better- for real!,

Not that I was without any need or attention> 

Trumps First Presidency, Corona Period and the need to take care of my Elders, and the onset of the Wars in Ukraine and – now Israel/Gaza/Middle-East- had a positive effect on the urgencies and motivation to “keep giving”-: 

I kept speaking at the regular classes, kept writing weekly notes, continued speaking engagement, and authored a new pamphlet and publications: – that are and were all very well received:

Over the last decade, I have built-up (with Energy For One World) a large repository of thought leadership, network of expertise and working practice experiences – and “it is time” to  bring and transfer this knowledge, the organisations and “these experienced ways of handling and organizing” into our global change challenge- “a Home”.

So, it is over the last several month that the idea and suggestion came back to my table: 

Set-Up “Mission Energy For One Word Foundation  (“Energy House”).

With Dr Singh onboard (and a large group of relevant professional expertise, willing- and at our fingertips), I am happy, energized and more than ready to recommit to a plan now framed, grown and matured- well, now over the past decade.

Based on past experiences   , and given the extensive pre-work done, and as I have earlier run and delivered these forms of organisation seeds, I trust Mission Energy For One World Foundation to be ready for its years ahead!

With that, I invite you to read the following plan pages, and welcome you to join-in or support this initiative with the very best you have!

Adriaan Kamp- Founder of Energy For One World.