Energy justice: A Multilateral View

The concept of energy justice (EJ) has emerged as a critical framework to address the disparities in access to, and use of, clean, reliable, and affordable energy resources. Scholars in EJ have circumscribed their range of action to not only study issues such as energy and fuel poverty but also, more broadly, analyze consequences of energy-related technological innovation on societies. EJ has transcended national boundaries and resonated with a global audience, and its principles have begun to influence policymaking in various countries. While the classical characterization of EJ comprises the three tenets of distributional, procedural, and recognition justice, its hybridizations have resulted in non-Western approaches to EJ, such as Ubuntu, an African-born concept that emphasizes relationality. After describing the classical view of EJ, this chapter deals with non-Western approaches to EJ and looks specifically at Ubuntu, emphasizing its benefits for a broader understanding of EJ.