Empowering Those in Harm’s Way: A Restorative Justice Approach

As countries edge towards low-carbon economies, the challenges posed by energy infrastructure sited in “energy sacrificial zones” highlight the vulnerability of individuals and communities in those areas that cause environmental degradation, limited economic prosperity and impaired well-being. To address this issue, using examples, the usefulness of energy justice through the lens of its restorative justice tenet to articulate responses for a ‘just’ energy system is explored. Anchored on the framing of restorative justice that is a theoretical integration of three concepts—respect, responsibility and remediation, the mitigation approach to addressing injustices is more favoured. Restorative justice in this frame has implications for an enhanced social contract. This encourages early change in behaviour and averts conflict to ensure a just transition. From practice, unbalanced power allocation and unfair regulatory actions are challenges for restorative justice. However, by respecting and empowering these communities for co-created agreeable remedial decisions, the decision-making process can deliver on energy justice.