A systematic review of the intersection between energy justice and human rights

Chioma Vivian Basil and Raphael Heffron

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 221, issue C

Abstract: This article systematically reviews the relationship between energy justice and human rights, recognising the shared responsibility of equity, inclusivity, respect, acknowledgement, and accountability for historical injustices. The energy justice theory is applied to checkmate the activities of the energy sector through the energy chain to manage its adverse impact on the environment and communities. This is anchored on five principles of distributional, procedural, recognition, restorative, and cosmopolitan justice principles. These principles are equally advocated for in the human rights framework to ensure universal energy access for well-being and a healthy environment. Therefore, this article explores how these energy justice and human rights principles have converged in the energy sector to tackle energy poverty, environmental degradation, community rights violations, and accountability concerns. The aim being to establish an intersection between the justice of energy activities and fundamental rights across academic journals and policy materials. Thus, by utilising a method of systematic review, this article analyses research materials spanning from January 2000 to October 2024. To understand the evolution of the relationship between human rights and energy justice, reflecting shifts in priorities and responses to contemporary issues. In this review, we find that very few studies have begun analysing human rights violations of energy activities as an energy justice concern. Therefore, this systematic review offers insights into creating a sustainable, accountable, and equitable energy system devoid of fundamental rights violations; through inclusive energy policies and implementation mechanisms that prioritize the rights, and well-being of vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Energy justice; Human rights; Accountability; Sustainable development; Right to energy; Energy access (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115892

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