Malaysia’s path to energy justice

Wind turbines at Buckeye Wind Farm in Kansas, United States. More and more, questions are being asked about who benefits the most from the transition to clean energy, and who bears the cost. — AP

AS the world transitions towards clean and sustainable energy, two questions are increasingly being asked: Who benefits the most from the transition, and who bears the cost? Behind the feel-good images of solar farms or wind turbines there now exists concerns about issues of fairness, equity, and equality.

As a principle in highlighting the equitable distribution of energy's benefits and burdens, energy justice is emerging as a key element in discussions about the energy transition. It pushes us to widen our horizons beyond technology and economics and focus on placing the human aspect in the centre of our energy systems.

Prof Raphael J. Heffron, of the University of Pau in France and a leading scholar in energy law and policy, has been highlighting the pressing need for equitable access to clean and affordable energy, while protecting vulnerable communities, especially marginalised groups, from suffering negative impacts due to energy generation and usage. For decades, marginalised and at-risk groups such as rural populations, indigenous communities, and low-income families have faced the worst impacts of environmental harm caused by energy projects.

Facing everything from pollution from coal-fired powered plants and displacement due to large-scale hydroelectric dams, they are often left out of the conversation about energy solutions. Energy justice demands we address these disparities and ensure the transition to renewable energy is inclusive and benefits everyone.

The good news is that energy justice is now being discussed beyond academic circles, while legal systems are acting to turn it into a reality. Courts are increasingly holding governments and corporations accountable for the impact of their energy decisions on human rights.

Since the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, there has been a significant increase in legal cases worldwide that focus on justice in energy-related disputes. These situations underscore a paradigm shift where energy projects can no longer ignore their social and environmental impacts, and governments and corporations must ensure that their decisions and actions align with human rights principles or risk facing repercussions in courts of law.

The growing recognition of energy justice is also making waves in policy discussions. Terms such as “a just transition” or “a just energy transition” have become themes for stakeholders who want to ensure that the shift to renewable energy is fair and equitable.

Policymakers are beginning to incorporate justice into the core of their climate and energy strategies. An example is the European Green Deal, which emphasises equity in addition to its ambitious climate goals. The concept is simple: a transition that leaves certain groups behind is not a sustainable transition at all.

For Malaysia, the principle of energy justice offers valuable lessons. Malaysia is only beginning to navigate the issues and challenges of the energy trilemma – energy security, energy affordability, and environmental sustainability – and this presents an opportunity for this country to integrate energy justice at the centre of its policies.

This may involve having policies or initiatives that emphasise energy accessibility for rural and indigenous populations, developing a holistic and inclusive power generation development plan, enforcing stricter accountability for corporations on their environmental and social impacts, and reevaluating how energy subsidies and incentives are distributed.

By incorporating energy justice into our energy transition journey, Malaysia could also reap practical benefits. The National Energy Policy 2022-2040 and National Energy Transition Roadmap are good examples of equitable and inclusive energy policies. Not only do they build trust with the rakyat, they reduce resistance to new energy projects and initiatives, attract more foreign and domestic investment, and ultimately ensure the long-term success of transitioning to renewable energy for a sustainable future and to achieve Malaysia’s net zero emissions target by 2050.

The idea of energy justice can change how we view progress and development. In the past, success was often judged by economic growth or building bigger and better infrastructure. But now there is an increasing recognition worldwide that sustainability must balance all aspects, including environmental, economic, and social priorities.

Energy justice represents this comprehensive perspective, emphasising that the shift to renewable energy is not just about fancy new technology, it is also about making sure the transition works for everyone.

As Malaysia and the world move away from fossil fuels and towards a future driven by renewable energy, it is important we ensure that justice is not left behind. In essence, energy justice is not only about fairness, but also about creating a future that is sustainable and inclusive, and a world where people are more likely to have the chance to thrive.

MOHD AZHAR ISMAIL and DR MOHD ISTAJIB MOKHTAR

Department of Science and Technology Studies

Faculty of Science

Universiti Malaya