1.1 Introduction
The global energy system has delivered a range of inequalities that must be addressed (Stern et al. 2016). Energy justice represents a framework that allows us to critique the problems of the global energy system, as well as to lead us to better decision-making in future energy investments, in both the private and public spheres. Energy justice is defined as the application of rights (both social and environmental) at each component part of the energy system. It makes us reflect on where, when, why and who is implicated in developing energy solutions, for both production and consumption . Inequality is after all relative, similar to poverty as noted by Sen (1992). This means that total equality is not possibleâbut must nevertheless be sought! It is incumbent upon individuals, public policymakers and private entities to rebalance the global energy system and its trilemma 1 of security, poverty and climate change. The energy justice framework also allows us to consider who is being ignored when energy systems deliver for only some parts of society. It can also inspire us to consider solutions to this ignorance. Lastly, it brings attention to the requirement for fair process in making decisions on energy.
Fossil fuels continue to dominate the worldâs energy system (IEA 2016). We are, however, firmly on a path towards low-carbon energy, imbued by a collective desire for new clean forms of energy (WEC 2016b). Most of our expectations are currently designed around modern renewables such as wind and solar. As a global society, we also hope for technological innovation in both energy sources, accompanied by the development of new sources of energy. We expect that our energy system is not only renewable but also rational. Solar energy is in areas of high heat, and wind energy where it is windy. However, our current global energy system is still to complete such a transition to renewable or even low-carbon energy, never mind rationality. It remains heavily dominated by fossil fuel sources of energy, related distributional logics and locked-in consumption patterns. The first section of the chapter focuses on assessing and exploring the realities of our current global energy system. This is a necessary discipline for energy justice scholars to make clear the assumptions underlying the arguments that can be made. I hope soon to be able to rewrite these assumptions. If we are to change in the future, we must be aware of the bad choices we made in the past and how we deal with the present implications.
The three most significant outcomes of our decisions (leading to a trilemma of energy security , fuel poverty and climate change) thus far on energy are (1) the insecurity of nation state-driven electricity and heating markets, which result in exporters requiring ever more resources, whilst net importers seek new indigenous sources of energyâi.e. energy security (2) the inability of the most needy parts of society to access or afford basic energy provision such as electricity or heating for cooking âi.e. energy or fuel poverty (3) the increasing contribution of fossil fuels to carbon emissions, which threaten the future of humanityâi.e. the low-carbon agenda, or simply climate change. The world will invest at least $10 trillion (a very conservative estimateâsee Stern et al. 2016) of private and public money into power generation infrastructure in the next 25 years (BNEF 2016). These investment decisions must attempt to confront the three most significant challenges to not only the global energy system , but also the future of our global society.
The energy justice framework is timely. We need new ways of thinking if we are going to respond effectively to the trilemma . The standard neoliberal approach to energy decision-making has failed to deliver an effective and balanced long-term energy system. Energy justice offers an interdisciplinary, innovative and sophisticated set of principles for future decisions as well as a means for understanding how we construct a global sustainable energy framework to meet our present and future challenges. The distribution of electricity , heating and transport must be rebalanced to achieve a more just system. We need energy policies that meet the needs of excluded sections of society, and lastly, new ways of including individuals, communities and nations in collective decisions must be found. The chapter will therefore conclude with a synthesis of energy justice principles with the three key challenges for energy.
1.2 The Global Energy System
There are three components that are integral to understanding the worldâs energy system: production , consumption and waste (and losses 2 ). As most of us are lucky enough to be consumers, only some of us have direct experience with production. Our mindset is therefore dominated by the end uses of electricity , heating and transport . Before tackling these consumption issues, we need to develop a broader understanding of global production, its primary sources and then ultimately the injustices it entails.
1.2.1 Global Energy Production
A key injustice in energy is the over-reliance of todayâs global societies on the historically embedded production systems of fossil fuels to satisfy growing energy demands. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA 2016), the world is producing over double 3 output today than in 1973. In both years and the interim period, fossil fuels heavily dominate the worldâs energy production. In 2016 (i.e. reported in 2016), oil, coal and gas amount to 86% of the worlds energy supply , 4 experiencing only a small drop from 90% in 1973. Biofuels and (energy recovery from) waste lead the primary non-fossil fuel sources with aro...