Our path to energy justice
By: Mohd Azhar Ismail, Dr. Mohd Istajib Mokhtar
As the world shifts towards a clean and more sustainable energy as underlined under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), two main questions persist: who benefits the most from the transition and who bears the cost? In truth, behind the iconic image of solar farms or wind turbines there exists concerns on issues of fairness, equity and equality.
As a principle in highlighting the equitable distribution of energy’s benefits and burdens, energy justice is emerging as a key element in discussions about the energy transition. It pushes us to widen our horizon beyond technology and economics, instead directing our focus towards the human aspect as a center of our energy systems.
Professor Raphael J. Heffron, a leading scholar in energy law and policy, highlights the pressing need for equitable access to clean and affordable energy, while protecting the vulnerable communities, especially marginalized groups, from suffering negative impacts due to energy generation and usage. For decades, marginalized and at-risk groups such as rural populations, indigenous communities and low-income families have faced the worst impacts of environmental harm caused by energy projects.
Whether pollution from coal-fired powered plants or displacement due to large-scale hydroelectric dams, they are often left out of the conversation about energy solutions. Energy justice demands us to address these disparities and ensure the transition to renewable energy is inclusive and benefits everyone.
The good news is that there is a positive development for energy justice worldwide as it is now being discussed beyond academic circles, whereby legal systems are acting to turn it into a reality. Courts are increasingly holding governments and corporations accountable for the impact of their energy decisions on human rights.
Since the 2015 Paris Agreement, there has been a significant increase in legal cases worldwide that focus on justice in energy-related disputes. These situations underscore a paradigm shift where energy projects can no longer ignore the social and environmental impacts, and governments and corporations must ensure that their decisions and actions must align with human rights principle, or they will face the repercussions in the court of law.
The growing recognition of energy justice is now making waves in policy discussions. The terms such as “just transition” or “just energy transition” have become theme or slogans for stakeholders who want to ensure that the shift to renewable energy is fair and equitable.
Policymakers are beginning to incorporate justice into the core of their climate and energy strategies. One of the examples is the European Green Deal which emphasizes equity, in addition to its ambitious climate goals. The concept is simple: a transition that leaves certain groups behind is not a sustainable transition at all.
For Malaysia, the principles of energy justice offer valuable lessons to us. As Malaysia navigating the issues and challenges of energy trilemma (energy security, energy affordability and environmental sustainability), it presents an opportunity for Malaysia to integrate energy justice at the centre of its energy plannings.
This may involve actions such as having policies or initiatives that emphasize energy accessibility for rural and indigenous populations, developing a holistic and inclusive planning for Power Generation Development Plan, enforcing a stricter accountability for corporations on their environmental and social impacts, and reevaluating how energy subsidies and incentives are distributed.
By incorporating energy justice into their journey of energy transition, Malaysia may also have practical benefits. The Dasar Tenaga Negara (DTN) 2022-2040 and National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) are good examples of equitable and inclusive energy policies.
Not only it builds trust with the “rakyat”, it reduces resistance to new energy projects or initiatives, attract a lot more foreign and domestic investment, and ultimately ensure the long-term success of transitioning to renewable energy initiatives for sustainable future and achieving net-zero emissions target by 2050.
The idea of energy justice can change how we view progress and development. In the past, success was often judged by economic growth or building bigger and better infrastructure. But now, there is an increasing recognition worldwide that sustainability must balance all aspects including environmental, economic, and social priorities.
Energy justice represents this comprehensive perspective, emphasizing that the shift to renewable energy is not just about fancy new technology, but it is about making sure the transition works for everyone.
As Malaysia and the world move away from fossil fuels and moving towards the future driven by renewable energy, it is important for us to ensure that justice is not left behind. Energy systems influence every aspect of our lives, from powering our home and cities, to how we work and travel.
A “just energy transition” ensures that no one is left behind. In essence, energy justice is not only about fairness, but it is about creating a future where people are more likely to have the chance to thrive in a sustainable and inclusive world.
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The authors are from the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya.
