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Coal, Climate Justice, and the Cultural Politics of Energy Transition

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  • Benjamin Brown
  • Samuel J. Spiegel

Abstract

In the wake of the Paris Agreement on climate change, promises to phase out coal-fired power have suggested cause for optimism around energy transition globally. However, coal remains entangled with contentious development agendas in many parts of the world, while fossil fuel industries continue to flourish. This article discusses these entanglements through a climate justice lens that engages the cultural politics surrounding coal and energy transition. We highlight how recent struggles around phasing out coal have stimulated renewed critical debates around colonialism, empire, and capitalism more broadly, recognizing climate change as an intersectional issue encompassing racial, gender, and economic justice. With social movements locked in struggles to resist the development or expansion of coal mines, power plants, and associated infrastructure, we unpack tensions that emerge as transnational alliances connect disparate communities across the world. Our conclusion signals the need for greater critical engagement with how intersecting inequalities are coded into the cultural politics of coal, and how this shapes efforts to pursue a just transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Brown & Samuel J. Spiegel, 2019. "Coal, Climate Justice, and the Cultural Politics of Energy Transition," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 19(2), pages 149-168, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:tpr:glenvp:v:19:y:2019:i:2:p:149-168
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    Cited by:

    1. Jingna Kou & Wei Li & Rui Zhang & Dingxiong Shi, 2023. "Hydrogen as a Transition Tool in a Fossil Fuel Resource Region: Taking China’s Coal Capital Shanxi as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Singh, Mudit Kumar, 2023. "What is state capacity and how does it matter for energy transition?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    3. Shafiullah, Muhammad & Miah, Mohammad Dulal & Alam, Md Samsul & Atif, Muhammad, 2021. "Does economic policy uncertainty affect renewable energy consumption?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1500-1521.
    4. Paula Walk & Isabell Braunger & Josephine Semb & Carolin Brodtmann & Pao-Yu Oei & Claudia Kemfert, 2021. "Strengthening Gender Justice in a Just Transition: A Research Agenda Based on a Systematic Map of Gender in Coal Transitions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-27, September.
    5. Linda Hancock & Linda Wollersheim, 2021. "EU Carbon Diplomacy: Assessing Hydrogen Security and Policy Impact in Australia and Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, December.
    6. Ngarava, Saul & Zhou, Leocadia & Ningi, Thulani & Chari, Martin M. & Mdiya, Lwandiso, 2022. "Gender and ethnic disparities in energy poverty: The case of South Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Margarida Casau & Diana C. M. Cancela & João C. O. Matias & Marta Ferreira Dias & Leonel J. R. Nunes, 2021. "Coal to Biomass Conversion as a Path to Sustainability: A Hypothetical Scenario at Pego Power Plant (Abrantes, Portugal)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Kerstin Mohr, 2021. "Breaking the Dichotomies: Climate, Coal, and Gender. Paving the Way to a Just Transition. The Example of Colombia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-18, September.
    9. Ellie Martus & Stephen Fortescue, 2022. "Russian coal in a changing climate: risks and opportunities for industry and government," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 1-21, August.
    10. Iwona Markuszewska, 2021. "The Energy Landscape versus the Farming Landscape: The Immortal Era of Coal?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, October.
    11. Sebastian Țoc & Filip Mihai Alexandrescu, 2022. "Post-Coal Fantasies: An Actor-Network Theory-Inspired Critique of Post-Coal Development Strategies in the Jiu Valley, Romania," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Delina, Laurence L., 2021. "Topographies of coal mining dissent: Power, politics, and protests in southern Philippines," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    13. Lin, Boqiang & Okyere, Michael Adu, 2023. "Race and energy poverty: The moderating role of subsidies in South Africa," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    14. Samuel J. Spiegel & Sarah Thomas & Kevin O’Neill & Cassandra Brondgeest & Jen Thomas & Jiovanni Beltran & Terena Hunt & Annalee Yassi, 2020. "Visual Storytelling, Intergenerational Environmental Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty: Exploring Images and Stories amid a Contested Oil Pipeline Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-20, March.
    15. Hancock, Linda & Ralph, Natalie, 2021. "A framework for assessing fossil fuel ‘retrofit’ hydrogen exports: Security-justice implications of Australia’s coal-generated hydrogen exports to Japan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    16. Trencher, Gregory & Healy, Noel & Hasegawa, Koichi & Asuka, Jusen, 2019. "Discursive resistance to phasing out coal-fired electricity: Narratives in Japan's coal regime," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 782-796.
    17. Roy, Brototi & Schaffartzik, Anke, 2021. "Talk renewables, walk coal: The paradox of India's energy transition," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).

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