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Vasna2023

Vasna Ramasar

Senior lecturer

Vasna2023

Mining coal while digging for justice: Investigating justice claims against a coal-phase out in five countries

Author

  • Henner Busch
  • Vasna Ramasar
  • Sofia Avila
  • Brototi Roy
  • Ana Mandinic
  • Tara Van Ryneveld
  • Eric Brandstedt

Summary, in English

Coal has long been one of the fossil fuels underpinning the energy systems of many countries around the world. Because of its long-standing history, many actors have an interest in retaining the status quo. In this article, we explore the complexities of a coal phase-out in different countries. Drawing on empirical material from Germany, India, Mexico, Serbia and South Africa, we look at the way coal is represented in public debate. We do so by analysing the respective political arguments of key actors about coal phase-out in the chosen countries and analyse their inherent justice claims. Our research illustrates how state institutions, fossil fuel companies and other actors have contributed to framing coal as a formative factor of social relations and as an asset for development. Further, we find that there is considerable overlap of justice claims between global North and global South countries, even though actors from global South countries also invoke global inequalities and historical climate debt. Based on our results, we argue that policymakers must (a) critically interrogate justice claims and (b) consider injustices created by the status quo to ensure a Just Transition.

Department/s

  • LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
  • Department of Human Geography
  • LU Profile Area: Human rights
  • Human Rights Studies

Publishing year

2023

Language

English

Publication/Series

The Extractive Industries and Society

Volume

15

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Human Geography

Keywords

  • Coal phase-out
  • Coal phase-down
  • Just transition
  • Climate delay
  • Germany
  • India
  • Mexico
  • Serbia
  • South Africa

Status

Published

Project

  • Energy Justice 2.0: Justice in Sustainability Transitions - Theme Pufendorf IAS
  • Navigating Justice Claims: Between Riots, Strikes and Business as Usual
  • Energy Justice - Theme, Pufendorf IAS

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2214-790X