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

Busch, Henner LU orcid ; Ramasar, Vasna LU ; Avila, Sofia ; Roy, Brototi ; Mandinic, Ana ; Van Ryneveld, Tara LU and Brandstedt, Eric LU (2023) In The Extractive Industries and Society 15.
Abstract
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... (More)
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. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Coal phase-out, Coal phase-down, Just transition, Climate delay, Germany, India, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa
in
The Extractive Industries and Society
volume
15
article number
101275
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85162145143
ISSN
2214-790X
DOI
10.1016/j.exis.2023.101275
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
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4285287b-33c2-49c2-b5b7-86658ae022fd
date added to LUP
2023-06-19 22:24:33
date last changed
2024-02-08 09:21:33
@article{4285287b-33c2-49c2-b5b7-86658ae022fd,
  abstract     = {{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.}},
  author       = {{Busch, Henner and Ramasar, Vasna and Avila, Sofia and Roy, Brototi and Mandinic, Ana and Van Ryneveld, Tara and Brandstedt, Eric}},
  issn         = {{2214-790X}},
  keywords     = {{Coal phase-out; Coal phase-down; Just transition; Climate delay; Germany; India; Mexico; Serbia; South Africa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{The Extractive Industries and Society}},
  title        = {{Mining coal while digging for justice: Investigating justice claims against a coal-phase out in five countries}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2023.101275}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.exis.2023.101275}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}