Justice in the Shadows of the Panels: Embedding Procedural and Multispecies Justice in Solar Development in Kushiro, Japan

Sammanfattning

A rapid increase in renewable energy in response to climate change often generates local conflicts. To achieve a just transition to renewable energy, it is crucial to embed justice into its development processes. I examined the case of solar development in Kushiro, Japan. By combining the theories of multispecies justice and procedural justice, this thesis analyzed how local stakeholders perceive solar development processes, and how non-human beings are represented within them. The findings from interviews with local stakeholders revealed a lack of justice in the solar development processes in terms of access to information, inclusive public consultation, informed consent for siting, and representation of non-human beings. While they indicated the importance of taking into account local contexts, such as environmental conditions and place attachment, institutional barriers still remain. Future research should include a wider range of stakeholders, and investigate the effectiveness of Kushiro’s new ordinance in promoting just solar development.