Energy Justice in a Changing Climate Social equity implications of the energy and low-carbon relationship

Energy justice is one of the most critical, and yet least developed, concepts associated with sustainability. Much has been written about the sustainability of low carbon energy systems and policies – with an emphasis on environmental, economic and geopolitical issues. However, less attention has been directed at the social and equity implications of these dynamic relations between energy and low carbon objectives – the complexity of injustice associated with whole energy systems (from extractive industries, through to consumption and waste) that transcend national boundaries and the social, political-economic and material processes driving the experience of energy injustice and vulnerability.

Drawing on a substantial body of original research from an international collaboration of experts this unique collection addresses energy poverty, just innovation, aesthetic justice, and the justice implications of 'low carbon' energy systems and technologies. The book offers new thinking on how interactions between climate change, energy policy and equity and social justice can be understood and develops a critical agenda for energy justice research.

Karen Bickerstaff is Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Exeter, UK.

Gordon Walker is Chair in environment, risk and social justice at Lancaster University, UK.

Harriet Bulkeley is Professor Human Geography at Durham University, UK.

The three authors led the Interdisciplinary Cluster on Energy Systems, Equity and Vulnerability (InCluESEV) which ran from 2009-2012, funded as part of a major Research Councils UK investment in Energy and Equity research.

Introduction

1. Energy, Innovation, Equity and Justice; Malcolm Eames

2. The aesthetic justice of low carbon technologies; Saskia Vermeylen and Dan van der Horst

3. Energy poverty in the EU: the socio-technical production of advanced marginality; Stefan Bouzarovski and Saska Petrova

4. Vulnerability, energy poverty and access to energy services: from attribute to assemblage; Rosie Day and Gordon Walker

5. An International Comparison of Equity Issues when Using Micro-Generation: Demonstrating a Whole Systems Approach; Charlotte Adams, Sandra Bell, Philip Taylor

6. Energy justice and the low carbon transition: low carbon community programmes in the UK; Harriet Bulkeley and Sara Fuller

7. Procedural justice and the UK planning system; Anna Watson

8. Nuclear energy justice and climate change justice: Intertwined or incompatible?; Catherine Butler and Peter Simmons

9. The geography of procedural justice: the case of CCS; Karen Bickerstaff and Noel Cass

10. The role of self-governance in the social construction of smart grids — How does extended community renewable energy implementation in resilient microgrids relate to equity and fairness?; Maarten Wolsink