Resolving energy policy failure: Introducing energy justice as the solution to achieve a just transition

Abstract

This article acts as an editorial to a Special Issue that addresses energy policy failure which advances a range of solutions. These contributions and how energy justice specifically can address the issues are highlighted. Energy justice as a concept and with its five key principles of justice (distributive, procedural, restorative, recognition, and cosmopolitan) can contribute to transformative change which the articles demonstrate is already visible in some countries. This is highlighted here in this article with further examples in the case of the United States, Colombia, and South Africa. Further, given the scientific reports from the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change there is now an urgency about reform. Societies need to meet their energy and climate goals for 2030 and 2050. Infusing energy justice throughout the energy sector will deliver this together with a safer, fairer, equitable, and more inclusive world. This aspiration should be the same across the world as the continued failure of energy policies is a global challenge where we are all ‘world citizens’ in the battle for a just transition to a low-carbon econmy.