Energy Justice: Fostering More Equitable Energy Futures
Are you motivated by the idea that social justice can be served by the energy transition, but are not sure how to make this happen? Do you want to grow your ability to recognize - and do something about - injustice in the energy space? Are you a sustainability or environmental professional eager to help design just energy systems? Do you wonder how to help advance equity in your community’s energy decisions? This course is for you! Energy is the lifeblood of the modern way of life.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 17 hours
- Course by Dartmouth College
-
Offered by
About
Are you motivated by the idea that social justice can be served by the energy transition, but are not sure how to make this happen? Do you want to grow your ability to recognize - and do something about - injustice in the energy space? Are you a sustainability or environmental professional eager to help design just energy systems? Do you wonder how to help advance equity in your community’s energy decisions? This course is for you! Energy is the lifeblood of the modern way of life. Yet not everyone has equal access to its benefits, and the environmental and social costs of producing, transporting, and using it are not evenly distributed. In this course you will explore the idea and practice of energy justice: what does it look like? Why are societies struggling to achieve it? What do we mean by sociotechnical energy systems, and how can we make them more equitable? The purposes of this course are (1) to introduce individuals and organizations to the concept of energy justice and where it comes from, and (2) to help them build a toolkit to identify and leverage opportunities to increase fairness and equity in energy-related decisions and actions. After completing this course, learners should be better equipped to recognize and confront energy injustice in their personal and professional lives, and to help envision and foster energy justice in society. Course Learning Objectives At the end of this course, students will be able to: • Define energy justice and explain its relationship to environmental justice, climate justice, and energy democracy • Define structural inequity and describe the impact of historical racism on today's energy systems • Describe the social complexity of energy systems as well as their major physical elements • Identify and explain key energy justice principles and frameworks • Distinguish between multiple forms of injustice in energy systems and analyze potential remedies • Discuss energy injustice and structural inequality with fluency • Identify and assess energy injustices in personal, professional and civic contexts • Design strategies to integrate energy justice into professional work and civic life • Advocate for energy justice as an essential element of energy transitions and climate change mitigation • Envision more just energy futuresModules
Introductions and Defining Energy Justice (Lesson 1/3)
-
5
Videos
-
6
Readings
-
1
Discussion
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Defining Energy Justice
1
Discussions
- Meet and Greet
5
Videos
- Welcome! (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- The Problem: Addressing Climate Change Is Not Just About Carbon (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- What is Energy Justice: Three Definitions (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- Energy Security (Dr. Diana Hernández)
- A Fourth Energy Justice Definition - and Crafting Our Own (Dr. Amanda Graham)
6
Readings
- Help Us Learn More About You (Pre-Course Survey)
- Welcome to the Course
- Social Identity and Why It's Important for This Course
- The Many Forms of Energy Injustice
- Dr. Diana Hernández: Pre-video Reading
- Companion Slides for Week 1, Lesson 1 Videos
Roots of Energy Justice: Structural Inequality and Racism (Lesson 2/3)
-
2
Videos
-
5
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Structural Inequity and Racism
2
Videos
- Recognizing Structural Inequity (Interview with Dr. Matthew Delmont)
- Racism, Historical Moments, and Forward Motion (Interview with Dr. Matthew Delmont)
5
Readings
- One Root of Energy Injustice: Structural Inequity and Racism
- Dr. Matthew Delmont - Bio
- Structural Inequity and Racism: James Baldwin, Isabel Wilkerson, and Ibram Kendi
- 2020: A Racial Reckoning?
- Companion Slides for Week 1, Lesson 2 Videos
Roots of Energy Justice: Environmental Justice (Lesson 3/3)
-
1
Videos
-
4
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Environmental Justice
1
Videos
- Introduction to Environmental Justice (Interview with Dr. Maron Greenleaf)
4
Readings
- Another Root: Environmental Justice
- Dr. Maron Greenleaf - Bio
- Companion Slides for Week 1, Lesson 3 Videos
- Connecting Climate, Environmental, and Energy Justice: Lessons from the Work of Dr. Robert Bullard
Energy Systems as Human and Social (as well as Physical) and What Your Energy System Looks Like (Lesson 1/3)
-
2
Videos
-
5
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Sankey Diagrams, Energy as Sociotechnical, and Personal Energy Use
2
Videos
- Beyond the Sankey Diagram: Sociotechnical Energy Systems (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- Personal Energy Systems and Maps (Dr. Amanda Graham)
5
Readings
- Energy Systems as Human and Social (as well as Physical)
- Sankey Diagrams, Why I Love Them, and What They Have to do with Energy Justice
- Everything You Need To Know About the Energy Flowcharts (Lawrence Livermore National Lab)
- Energy Use at a Personal Scale
- Companion Slides for Week 2, Lesson 1 Videos
Three Foundational Energy Justice Principles (Lesson 2/3)
-
1
Videos
-
3
Readings
-
2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Reviewing the Three Tenets of Energy Justice
- Recognizing Energy Justice Tenets
1
Videos
- Distributive, Procedural, Recognition Principles of Energy Justice (Dr. Amanda Graham)
3
Readings
- Three Foundational Principles of Energy Justice
- Companion Slides for Week 2, Lesson 2 Videos
- Diagnosing Energy Justice Tenets
Adding Restorative and Voice-Centering Principles of EJ to our Toolbox (Lesson 3/3)
-
1
Videos
-
4
Readings
-
2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Two Additional Principles of Energy Justice
- Climate Change Fundamentalism and Energy Democracy
1
Videos
- Restorative and Voice-Centering Approaches to Justice (Dr. Amanda Graham)
4
Readings
- Two More Energy Justice Principles
- Companion Slides for Week 2, Lesson 3 Videos
- Excerpt from Revolutionary Power (Shalanda Baker)
- Excerpt from Energy Democracy (Denise Fairchild and Al Weinrub)
Case Studies in Energy Justice: Efficiency and Renewables (Lesson 1/3)
-
2
Videos
-
5
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Reviewing the Work of Dr. Tony Reames and Dr. Sarah Kelly
2
Videos
- Case Studies Preview (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- Case Study in Energy Justice: Small Hydropower in Chile (Interview with Dr. Sarah Kelly)
5
Readings
- Dr. Tony Reames - Bio
- Energy Efficiency and Equity with Dr. Tony Reames
- Dr. Sarah Kelly - Bio
- A Bit of Background for Dr. Sarah Kelly's Study
- Companion Slides for Week 3, Lesson 1 Videos
Case Studies in Energy Justice: Grid and Cap-and-Trade (Lesson 2/3)
-
3
Videos
-
5
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Reviewing the work of Dr. Dominic Boyer and Dr. Danae Hernández-Cortés
3
Videos
- Case Study in Energy Justice: Texas (Interview with Dr. Dominic Boyer)
- Case Study in Energy Justice: California Cap and Trade (Interview with Danae Hernández-Cortés)
- Case Study Recap (Dr. Amanda Graham)
5
Readings
- Dr. Dominic Boyer - Bio
- Examining the February 2021 Texas Grid Failure with Dr. Dominic Boyer
- Dr. Danae Hernández-Cortés - Bio
- Environmental Markets and Energy Justice with Dr. Danae Hernández-Cortés
- Companion Slides for Week 3, Lesson 2 Videos
Building Your Energy Justice Framework (Lesson 3/3)
-
3
Videos
-
3
Readings
-
1
Discussion
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Exploring the IEJ's Energy Justice Workbook and Scorecard
1
Discussions
- Describe An Insight From the Course
3
Videos
- Tools and Toolkits (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- Putting Your Coursework into Action (Dr. Amanda Graham)
- Final Video (Dr. Amanda Graham)
3
Readings
- Exploring the IEJ's Energy Justice Workbook and Scorecard
- Companion Slides for Week 3, Lesson 3 Videos
- Reflecting on Your Takeaways From the Course
Course Evaluation
-
1
Readings
1
Readings
- Course Evaluation
Auto Summary
"Energy Justice: Fostering More Equitable Energy Futures" is an engaging and insightful course in the Science & Engineering domain, designed to introduce learners to the concept of energy justice. Guided by expert instructors, the course delves into the relationship between energy, social justice, and equity. Over 1020 minutes, participants will explore the complexities of energy systems, historical impacts of racism, and strategies to advocate for just energy transitions. Ideal for sustainability professionals and those passionate about equitable energy solutions, this foundational course is available with a Coursera Starter subscription.
Amanda C. Graham