Format/Structure

Short presentations followed by a longer collective debate

Long Abstract

The global imperative to promote an energy transition raises key questions regarding the economic and ecological reorganization of contemporary societies. From a political ecology perspective, we insist that the so-called transition from fossil fuel systems to "low-carbon" systems will not only entail the implementation of new technologies to harness alternative energy sources; but a fundamental reorganization on the global social metabolism (Martinez-Alier, 2009). This means, changes in the quality and quantity of the extraction, transformation, consumption, and disposal of resources, increasing or reducing conflicts and power asymmetries at different scales (Scheidel et al, 2018).

This panel is intended as a collective space to share results, reflections, and experiences from action research in the field of energy eco-politics in the context of the energy transition. The objective is to develop critical readings that integrate the problem of extractivism and the production of green sacrifice zones with issues such as labor and technology at different scales. Following the notion of Solar Capitalism (Avila-Calero, 2025), we intend to trace patterns of unequal exchange of nature and labor across different production chains, placing particular emphasis on North-South dynamics. We seek to include here cases on the production, installation, consumption and disposal of solar panels, wind turbines, green hydrogen infrastructures, batteries, electric vehicles, and other associated technologies. Within this framework, we aim to collectively discuss and amplify voices of local resistance and transnational solidarity that contend alternative futures amidst the energy-climate crisis.

References:

Avila-Calero, S. Solar Capitalism: accumulation strategies and socio-ecological futures.Sustain Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01662-2

Martínez-Alier J (2009) Social metabolism, ecological distribution conflicts and languages of valuation. Capitalism Nature Socialism 20(1):58-87.

Scheidel A, Temper L, Demaria F, Martínez-Alier J (2018) Ecological distribution conflicts as forces for sustainability: an overview and conceptual framework. Sustain. Sci. 13: 585–598.

This Panel has 9 pending paper proposals.
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