Why Affordable Clean Energy Is Not Enough. A Capability Perspective on the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

This paper reflects on criticisms raised in the literature on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These have been criticized as creating a dichotomy between the environment and human beings that fails to address the multiple interconnections between the two. This paper focuses on SDG7—“affordable and clean energy”—and suggests that there is in fact a tripartite distinction between the environment, human beings and technology underlying the SDGs. This distinction, we argue, does not adequately represent the multiple interconnections among the various SDGs and hampers their implementation. We contend that the formulation of SDG7 produces a circular definition of sustainability, a difficulty that is currently resolved at the level of the targets and indicators in a way that regards energy technologies primarily as artifacts. By contrast, the literature on ethical aspects of energy systems largely agrees that energy is a paradigmatic example of a sociotechnical system. We contend that, by not considering this sociotechnical nature, the SDGs run the risk of implicitly defending a certain variant of technological optimism and determinism. We argue that this is disadvantageous to the environment, human well-being and technological development. In line with recent critical evaluations of the SDGs, we argue that these (and other) shortcomings can be addressed by better connecting the SDGs to human well-being. Building on recent literature that expands the scope of the Capability Approach as an alternative measure of well-being so as to include considerations of sustainability, we articulate a framework that allows us to elucidate this connection and thus to take advantage of synergies between human well-being and the environment. On the basis of the Capability Approach, we argue that equating sustainable energy with renewable energy—as is done in the transition from SDG7’s goal to its targets—is indefensible because, as part of the overarching energy systems, energy technologies cannot be classified as simply right or wrong. Rather, the indicators and targets within a framework focused on sustainability need to be (more) context sensitive, meaning that, among other things, they may vary by country and with the available technology.

Energy Justice and the Capability Approach—Introduction to the Special Issue

“…In one of the first contributions to the scientific debate to combine the Capability Approach with energy justice thinking, Sovacool and Dworkin (2014) claim, with the inspiration from Nussbaum's list of central capabilities, that everyone has the right to a minimum level of energy. Hillerbrand (2015Hillerbrand ( , 2018 argues that the Capability Approach can function as an overarching framework for elucidating the interconnections between human well-being, the natural environment and technology. In contrast to preference-based Utilitarianism, it is based on an objective understanding of well-being that allows us to make interpersonal comparisons, and thus, it can serve as a metric for justice considerations.…”

National Energy Transition Framework toward SDG7 with Legal Reforms and Policy Bundles: The Case of Taiwan and Its Comparison with Japan

“…The 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development has significant implications when it comes to energy transition (Table 1), with the main goal of SDG7 primarily pursuing the development of sustainable energy and the implementation of an energy transition at the national level [22,[25][26][27][28]. SDG7 involves building a vision for developing sustainable energy and an energy transition, as well as a new agenda for sustainable energy services, with the aim to steadily provide the public affordable and clean energy or electricity.…”

W jaki sposób rozwój indonezyjskiej nauki w zakresie odnawialnych źródeł energii skutecznie wspiera projektowanie polityki? Podróż w kierunku zrównoważonej energetyki

“…This is due to energy having a role to eradicate poverty through advances in health, education, water supply and industrialization, to combat climate change. This role is in electricity, heat, and transportation as an energy sector segmentation (Hillerbrand, 2018). Providing energy to meet today's needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs is the meaning of sustainable energy (SE).…”

“…RES are the scope of SE, such as hydroelectric power, biomass, geothermal, wind, waves, tidal and solar energy (Hollaway, 2013). Meanwhile, nuclear is considered not to be included as a SE, because of its radioactive waste (Hillerbrand, 2018). Some researchers claim that RE sources are the most efficient and effective solution to address current environmental problems that are faced and require potential long-term action for SD (Dincer, 2000;Lund, 2007;Sadorsky, 2011).…”