Energy Justice as a Governance Challenge: Why the energy transition worsens inequities and what to do about it

The dissertation shows that while governments worldwide are driving the shift to sustainable energy, their efforts often deepen existing inequalities. Many wealthier households benefit from insulation, solar panels, and electric vehicles, while socioeconomically disadvantaged groups remain in poorly insulated homes and struggle to afford basic energy needs. Although governments increasingly acknowledge these disparities and express ambitions for energy justice, they struggle to translate those ambitions into effective action. The research investigates why this gap persists and how governments can close it. Focusing on the Dutch energy transition, it follows energy justice from its appearance in policy documents to its implementation in concrete policies. Three governance challenges emerge. • Ambiguous goals: Terms like justice or fairness are so broad that policymakers can overlook or reinterpret them. Clear, specific objectives are needed to guide decisions. • Lack of integration into policy practice: Even when objectives are defined, they often remain symbolic. Embedding them into everyday policymaking – through assessment criteria, monitoring systems, and feedback loops – is essential to ensure policies align with justice ambitions. • Ineffective policy strategies: Different governance strategies – rowing, steering, and serving – each have strengths and weaknesses. No single approach reliably delivers energy justice, and choosing among them is ultimately a political decision. The dissertation argues that achieving energy justice requires a coordinated, ongoing effort: clarifying objectives, embedding them in policy processes, and continuously learning from implementation. By bringing public administration insights into energy justice research, it offers governments practical guidance for making the energy transition fairer for those who need it most.