The spatial economics of energy justice: modelling the trade impacts of increased transport costs in a low carbon transition and the implications for UK regional inequality

Olner, D., Mitchell, G., Heppenstall, A. and Pryce, G. (2020) The spatial economics of energy justice: modelling the trade impacts of increased transport costs in a low carbon transition and the implications for UK regional inequality. Energy Policy, 140, 111378. (doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111378)

Abstract

Spatial economic change is an energy justice issue (Bouzarovski and Simcock, 2017) - an essential consideration in how we choose to re-wire the economy for a carbon-free future. Nothing like the conscious system-wide change required has been attempted before. Rapid policy decisions risk embedding existing injustices or creating new ones unless steps are taken to ameliorate those risks. We present a model that takes a whole-system view of the UK spatial economy, examining how increasing distance costs (e.g. through fuel tax hikes) have unequal impacts on regions and sectors. The model establishes an important carbon transition policy principle: change in spatial flows of internal trade, which are certain to occur rapidly during transition, have measurable energy justice implications. Peripheral economic regions, in rural and coastal areas and many city outskirts are most vulnerable, as are petrochemical, agricultural and connected sectors. Policy must go beyond identifying places and sectors most affected: it is the connections between them that matter most. The "push" of spatially aware fiscal policy needs to be combined with the "pull" of targeted interventions designed to promote low-carbon intermediate connections. This is not only just, but would help make (potentially costly) transition more politically acceptable.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the following research grants: Economic and Social Research Council, UK, Secondary Data Analysis Initiative: Geospatial Restructuring of Industrial Trade, grant reference ES/K004409/1. Economic and Social Research Council, UK, Understanding Inequalities, grant reference ES/P009301/1.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Heppenstall, Professor Alison

Creator Roles

Heppenstall, A.: Supervision, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Olner, D., Mitchell, G., Heppenstall, A., and Pryce, G.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Energy Policy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0301-4215
• ISSN (Online): 1873-6777
• Published Online: 05 March 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Energy Policy 140:111378
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a creative commons licence