Making the Ethical and Philosophical Case for “Energy Justice”

Jones, Benjamin R.; Sovacool, Benjamin K.; Sidortsov, Roman

doi:10.5840/enviroethics201537215

Cited by 54 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…'If we understand what it is, what it means to those for whom it is a good, we understand how, by whom, and for what reasons it ought to be distributed' (Walzer, 1983, p. 9). This also holds for the literature on 4 'energy justice' (Heffron et al, 2015;Jones et al, 2015;Miller et al, 2013). While taking into account the specific features of energy provision, this literature does not provide specific fairness criteria for particular energy questions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing fairness of dynamic grid tariffs

Neuteleers

Mulder²,

Hindriks

2017

Energy Policy

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The surge in the supply of intermittent renewable energy creates new challenges for electricity networks. The high variation in the supply either requires costly network extensions or the implementation of incentives that reduce peaks. One variant of the latter are dynamic tariffs. While dynamic pricing provides an efficient tariff scheme, people may perceive it as unfair. This paper examines to which extent such peak pricing is actually unfair and, if so, how this unfairness can be lessened by adapting the tariff design. We discuss the efficiency arguments for dynamic pricing and subsequently the acceptability and perceived fairness. In addition, we contrast these perceptions with fairness criteria derived from ethical theories. We conclude that dynamic pricing does not necessarily need to be unfair. In particular, the fairness depends to a significant extent on the concrete tariff implementation. The perceived fairness of dynamic pricing can be strengthened by using the revenues for measures related to the grid, providing clear common-language arguments, mediating adverse consequences for the least well-off, and minimizing unpredictability. 1 This paper is written as part of the research project "Redesigning the electricity market in order to facilitate the transition towards a sustainable energy system", financed by NWO and various stakeholders in the energy sector. The authors thank the members of the Valorisation Board as well as the Scientific Advisory Board for their input during this project. The authors, however, are fully responsible for the contents of this paper.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing fairness of dynamic grid tariffs

Neuteleers

Mulder²,

Hindriks

2017

Energy Policy

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“…The recognition that parts of society will unfairly suffer from the distribution of inequalities from the energy system is an insufficient conclusion. Through identifying where inequalities emerge, energy justice makes us reflect upon who exactly should we focus on when we think of energy victims [23]. This process is referred to as post distributional, or recognition-based justice [12,24].…”

Section: Recognition Justicementioning

confidence: 99%

Energy justice in the transition to low carbon energy systems: Exploring key themes in interdisciplinary research

et al. 2019

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“…Many features of energy production and use have significant impacts on fairness and justice (Jones et al 2015). For instance, the costs of climate change will disproportionately befall the weakest and least developed countries as well as the poorest in developed nations while any benefits, if there are any, will likely accrue to the rich and powerful (Smith et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New frontiers and conceptual frameworks for energy justice

et al. 2017

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This article explores how concepts from justice and ethics can inform energy decisionmaking and highlight the moral and equity dimensions of energy production and use. It defines "energy justice" as a global energy system that fairly distributes both the benefits and burdens of energy services, and one that contributes to more representative and inclusive energy decision-making. The primary contribution of the article is its focus on six new frontiers of future energy justice research. First is making the case for the involvement of non-Western justice theorists. Second is expanding beyond humans to look at the Rights of Nature or non-anthropocentric notions of justice. Third is focusing on cross-scalar issues of justice such as embodied emissions. Fourth is identifying business models and the co-benefits of justice. Fifth is better understanding the tradeoffs within energy justice principles. Sixth is exposing unjust discourses. In doing so, the article presents an agenda constituted by 30 research questions as well as an amended conceptual framework consisting of ten principles. The article argues in favor of "justice-aware" energy planning and policymaking, and it hopes that its (reconsidered) energy justice conceptual framework offers a critical tool to inform decision-making.

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Making the Ethical and Philosophical Case for “Energy Justice”

Cited by 54 publications

References 0 publications

Assessing fairness of dynamic grid tariffs

Assessing fairness of dynamic grid tariffs

Energy justice in the transition to low carbon energy systems: Exploring key themes in interdisciplinary research

New frontiers and conceptual frameworks for energy justice

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