What is Energy Justice?

From the Initiative for Energy Justice:

Energy justice refers to the goal of achieving equity in both the social and economic participation in the energy system, while also remediating social, economic, and health burdens on those disproportionately harmed by the energy system.

Energy justice explicitly centers the concerns of communities at the frontline of pollution and climate change (“frontline communities”), working class people, indigenous communities, and those historically disenfranchised by racial and social inequity. Energy justice aims to make energy accessible, affordable, clean, and democratically managed for all communities.

Explore The Energy Justice Workbook by the Initiative for Energy Justice to learn more about what energy justice means and how to put it into practice.

What is Energy Democracy?

Energy Democracy is a framework that is grounded in the solutions of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities to invest in a regenerative economy that sustains our people and our planet.

Energy Democracy represents a shift from the corporate, centralized fossil fuel economy to one that is governed by communities, is designed on the principle of no harm to the environment, supports local economies, and contributes to the health and well-being for all peoples.

Read the Ten Principles for Energy Democracy by Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy and the Climate Justice Alliance Energy Democracy Working Group.

 

More Resources for Energy Justice & Democracy

NAACP Energy Justice training

Working in Partnership for Energy Justice

In order to combat the climate crisis and reach 100% clean energy, solar needs to serve everyone and include everyone.

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