Table Of ContentIt is often said that energy is the lifeblood of modern societies. It follows that if
we want a society that is just and fair, then energy decisions must support these
goals. Benjamin K. Sovacool’s perceptive and innovative new book examines
energy decision-making in this context. He makes a powerful case for energy
justice.
James Gustave Speth, former dean of the Yale School of Forestry and
Environmental Studies, founder and president of the World Resources
Institute, and author of America the Possible: Manifesto for a New Economy
Benjamin K. Sovacool demonstrates through important case studies and original
research the essential link between access to resources and individual and commu-
nity opportunity and freedom. As we move into the twenty-first century, where
population, environmental quality, and resource pressures will imprint themselves
centrally on every aspect of society, this book provides a thought-provoking guide
to the challenges ahead.
Daniel M. Kammen, Class of 1935 Distinguished Professor of Energy,
University of California, Berkeley
Benjamin K. Sovacool, one of the smartest energy analysts anywhere, clearly
explains that energy policy has as much to do with justice and ethics as it does
economics and technology. Energy and Ethics fills a big hole in the policy debate
moving us closer to a consensus beyond political stalemate. Essential reading.
David W. Orr, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor, Oberlin College
When we think of energy, we conjure up images of infrastructure such as coal
mines, well fields, pipelines, power and plants. We worry about supply, demand,
security, risk, public acceptance, costs, and even war. What we rarely think about
is the twinned topics of ethics and justice. With this new book, Benjamin K.
Sovacool has changed all that. Energy studies will never be the same. And that’s
a good thing. In these times of increasing competition for the energy resources that
await discovery beneath mountains, prairies, deserts, forests, permafrost, oceans,
and Arctic ice, what could be more important than justice?
Martin J. (Mike) Pasqualetti, Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute
of Sustainability, and Professor of Geographical Sciences and Urban
Planning, Arizona State University
Energy, Climate and the Environment
Series Editor: David Elliott , Emeritus Professor of Technology, Open University, UK
Titles include:
Luca Anceschi and Jonathan Symons (editors)
ENERGY SECURITY IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE
The Asia-Pacific Experience
Philip Andrews-Speed
THE GOVERNANCE OF ENERGY IN CHINA
Implications for Future Sustainability
Ian Bailey and Hugh Compston (editors)
FEELING THE HEAT
The Politics of Climate Policy in Rapidly Industrializing Countries
Mehmet Efe Biresselioglu
EUROPEAN ENERGY SECURITY
Turkey’s Future Role and Impact
David Elliott (editor)
NUCLEAR OR NOT?
Does Nuclear Power Have a Place in a Sustainable Future?
David Elliott ( editor)
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Opportunities and Limitations
Horace Herring and Steve Sorrell (editors)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
The Rebound Effect
Horace Herring (editor)
LIVING IN A LOW-CARBON SOCIETY IN 2050
Matti Kojo and Tapio Litmanen (editors)
THE RENEWAL OF NUCLEAR POWER IN FINLAND
Antonio Marquina (e ditor)
GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Prospects and Policies in Asia and Europe
Catherine Mitchell, Jim Watson and Jessica Whiting (editors)
NEW CHALLENGES IN ENERGY SECURITY
The UK in a Multipolar World
Catherine Mitchell
The Political Economy of Sustainable Energy
Ivan Scrase and Gordon MacKerron (editors)
ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE
A New Agenda
Gill Seyfang
Sustainable Consumption, Community Action and the New Economics
Seeds of Change
Benjamin K. Sovacool
ENERGY & ETHICS
Justice and the Global Energy Challenge
Joseph Szarka
WIND POWER IN EUROPE
Politics, Business and Society
Joseph Szarka, Richard Cowell, Geraint Ellis, Peter A. Strachan and Charles Warren
( editors )
LEARNING FROM WIND POWER
Governance, Societal and Policy Perspectives on Sustainable Energy
David Toke
ECOLOGICAL MODERNISATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Xu Yi-chong (editor)
NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA
Problems and Prospects
Xu Yi-chong
THE POLITICS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN CHINA
Also by Benjamin K. Sovacool
CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL ENERGY SECURITY ( with Marilyn A. Brown )
CONTESTING THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR POWER
ENERGY ACCESS, POVERTY, AND DEVELOPMENT (w ith Ira Martina Drupady )
ENERGY AND AMERICAN SOCIETY ( edited with Marilyn A. Brown )
ENERGY POVERTY
ENERGY SECURITY, INEQUALITY AND JUSTICE (w ith Roman Sidortsov and
Benjamin R. Jones, forthcoming )
GLOBAL ENERGY JUSTICE (f orthcoming )
POWERING THE GREEN ECONOMY: The Feed-in Tariff Handbook (w ith Miguel
Mendonca and David Jacobs )
THE ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF ENERGY SECURITY ( edited )
THE DIRTY ENERGY DILEMMA: What’s Blocking Clean Power in the United States
THE GOVERNANCE OF ENERGY MEGAPROJECTS: Politics, Hubris and Energy
Security ( with Christopher J. Cooper, forthcoming )
THE NATIONAL POLITICS OF NUCLEAR POWER: Economics, Security, and
Governance ( with Scott Victor Valentine )
Energy, Climate and the Environment
Series Standing Order ISBN 978–0–230–00800–7 (hb) 978–0–230–22150–5 (pb)
You can receive future titles in this series as they are published by placing a standing order. Please
contact your bookseller or, in case of difficulty, write to us at the address below with your name
and address, the title of the series and one of the ISBNs quoted above.
Customer Services Department, Macmillan Distribution Ltd, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire
RG21 6XS, England
This page intentionally left blank
Energy & Ethics
Justice and the Global Energy Challenge
Benjamin K. Sovacool
Associate Professor of Law and Senior Researcher, Vermont Law School, USA
Professor of Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
© Benjamin K. Sovacool 2013
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2013 978-1-137-29865-2
All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this
publication may be made without written permission.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted
save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence
permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,
Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work
in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published 2013 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited,
registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin’s Press LLC,
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies
and has companies and representatives throughout the world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries
ISBN 978-1-137-29865-2 ISBN 978-1-137-29866-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9781137298669
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully
managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing
processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the
country of origin.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
To Lilei, who inspired me to take a closer look at the people affected
by energy systems, rather than just the technology
Contents
List of Tables x i
List of Figures x iii
Series Editor Preface xv
Acknowledgments x vii
About the Author x ix
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations xx
1 Introduction 1
Introduction 1
Novelty and contribution 2
The global energy system 5
Electricity 6
Transport 8
Heating and cooking 10
Energy justice and the chapters to come 11
2 Availability and Danish Energy Policy 16
Introduction 16
Availability as an energy justice concern 16
Case study: Danish energy policy 24
History 25
Recent developments 32
Benefits 33
Challenges 36
Conclusion: lessons and implications 41
3 Affordability and Fuel Poverty in England 43
Introduction 43
Affordability as an energy justice concern 43
Case study: fuel poverty in England 48
History 49
Benefits 52
Challenges 56
Conclusion: lessons and implications 61
viii
Contents ix
4 Due Process and the World Bank’s Inspection Panel 66
Introduction 66
Due process as an energy justice concern 66
Case study: The World Bank’s Inspection Panel 71
History 76
Benefits 79
Challenges 83
Conclusion: lessons and implications 89
5 Information and the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative 90
Introduction 90
Information as an energy justice concern 9 0
Case study: The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 9 9
History 99
Benefits 102
Challenges 107
Conclusion: lessons and implications 110
6 Prudence and S ã o Tom é e Pr í ncipe’s Oil Revenue
Management Law 112
Introduction 112
Prudence as an energy justice concern 1 12
Case study: S ã o Tom é e Pr í ncipe’s Oil Revenue Management Law 121
History 122
Benefits 125
Challenges 132
Conclusion: lessons and implications 134
7 Intergenerational Equity and Solar Energy in Bangladesh 1 36
Introduction 136
Intergenerational equity as an energy justice concern 1 36
Case study: IDCOL’s Solar Home Systems Program 144
History 146
Benefits 155
Challenges 159
Conclusion: lessons and implications 162
8 Intragenerational Equity and Climate Change Adaptation 1 64
Introduction 164
Intragenerational equity as an energy justice concern 1 64
Ocean acidification 166
Natural and humanitarian disasters 167
Food security 168
Human health and diseases 169
