Supporting Consumers Through Energy Transitions is the focus of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day, celebrated March 15 each year.

Events of the past year have reinforced how difficult it will be to engineer a rapid transition to clean energy. Consumers International selected this year’s theme to showcase the challenges of energy sustainability, security and affordability.

Though March 15 is the single World Consumer Rights Day, CI has created a week of online events for participants around the world. These include many panel discussions on related topics, bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss the changes and innovation needed to empower consumer is the transition.  Panel participants include senior leaders and experts from consumer advocacy, government, business, civil society and academia.

The following sessions are all available to the public, but do require registration.

• Mon., March 13 – 2.30 p.m. UTC: The Consumer Journey on the Road to Clean Energy
• Tues., March 14 – 3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. UTC: Shaping the next generation of consumer-centred business models in energy
• Wed., March 15 –  1 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. UTC: Our consumer vision for clean and affordable energy
• Thurs., March 16 – 11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. UTC: Grassroots solutions for energy access: how can we leverage the power of consumers?
• Fri., March 17 – 12 p.m. – 1.30 p.m. UTC: Is consumer policy fit for a clean energy future?

Sessions will be in English, with translations in French and Spanish.

Consumers International has 200 consumer organization members, including Consumers Council of Canada, in 100 countries.

The origins of World Consumer Rights Day trace back to 1962 when President John F. Kennedy addressed the issue of consumer rights in a special message to the U.S. Congress. The consumer movement first marked the date in 1983 and now uses it every year to mobilize action on important issues. It is an opportunity to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protect against market abuses and social injustices that undermine those rights.