ABSTRACT
In recent years, social issues around low-carbon energy implementation have been gaining prominence in both developed and developing countries. Though researchers across different disciplines in developed countries have started dealing with this issue, there is a dearth of theoretical or empirical research in developing countries. It is essential that justice issues are re-examined in this new arena that will increasingly affect the livelihood of thousands of people, especially in densely populated and socio-economically unequal developing country regions. From a pluralistic perspective, this chapter contributes to the understanding of the relationship between energy systems and their socio-spatial context by providing a conceptual framework on the trilemma of ‘energy justice’. The energy justice framework developed in this chapter corresponds to the theoretical knowledge on (1) procedural justice, (2) distributional justice and (3) recognition principles based in social, environmental, spatial and energy justice literatures. This conceptual framework can provide new insights into how social justice issues, such as recognition of marginalised communities, equal and democratic participation and the just distribution of project outcomes are intrinsically interconnected to implementation of ‘environmentally good’ projects. The application of multiple theories of justice to develop the three important tenets of energy justice can be a useful instrument for analysing controversies over implementation of renewable energy policies. This work is unique and timely because it can provide an understanding of the social implications of contemporary energy projects as global leaders initiate sustainable energy policies to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
