Short Abstract:

This panel seeks papers that explore the intersections of justice and energy transitions, particularly those that critically examine prevailing notions of the ‘energy transition’ and ‘justice’ themselves.

Long Abstract:

The burdens of climate impacts and the pathways to mitigate/adapt to them are unevenly distributed. They underscore vast inequalities both across and within geographical regions and time scales. The concept of ‘energy transition’ carries the promise of a greener way of production and consumption, yet it remains intertwined with existing structures of power, politics, and historical legacies that shape which communities benefit and which are marginalised. For some, the shift towards renewable energy and decarbonisation represents an avenue for justice and equity; for others, it reinforces enduring systems of exploitation and exclusion.

This panel invites papers that critically interrogate the intersections of justice and energy transitions, aiming to broaden our understanding of how power operates in shaping environmental, socio-economic and climate futures. We encourage contributions that examine the multiple dimensions of ‘justice’—from distributional and procedural to restorative, recognitional, and ecological forms—in relation to energy policies, practices, and imaginaries. 

Key questions include: Who holds the power to define what ‘justice’ means within the context of energy transitions? And, what encapsulates ‘green energy’ under the notion of ‘justice’? What do ‘green energy transition’ and ‘justice’ look like on the ground? How do dominant narratives about the transition obscure or overlook the needs of the most vulnerable? What are the implications of framing energy transition as an objective necessity, and who benefits from this framing? How do broader, intersecting questions of power and violence reify justice in the transition? Who are the opposition to justice and the green transition, and why?

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