Energy & Ethics: Justice and the Global Energy Challenge PDF
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It 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
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