Just an energy transition or a just energy transition – Design and application of an energy justice index

In order to avoid dangerous climate change and to satisfy the global energy needs the world needs to transform the energy systems. The hopes for the low-carbon energy transition are especially high in countries of the Global South to provide clean and affordable energy to propel development. Yet, while the energy transition provides opportunities, it also raises questions on how to ensure that a just energy transition and to avoid creating new inequalities. Energy justice as an analytical framework differentiates between distributive, recognitional, and procedural justice, thus taking into account social and development objectives such as affordability and accessibility of energy, ensuring the inclusion of marginalised parts of society, as well as broader community involvement and participation. What has been lacking so far is a tool to measure the energy justice of the energy transition. We propose an energy justice index that takes into account the different dimensions of energy justice. We use a combination of literature review and experts’ interviews to design the index and apply it to select countries from Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the MENA region, and Latin America.