Fuelling injustice? Safeguarding equity in anti-fossil fuel norms

Abstract

This article explores anti-fossil fuel norms (AFFNs), which set behavioral standards for phasing out practices and processes across the fossil fuel supply chain. In recent years, AFFNs have emerged and become increasingly institutionalized in global climate governance. However, they remain contested and have not yet achieved widespread acceptance. Much of the contestation concerns the perceived equity of these norms. Drawing on insights from the literature on AFFNs and expert interviews, this article investigates equity-related issues that arise in the context of four key AFFNs: phasing out coal-fired power, phasing out oil and gas, ending public financing for fossil fuels, and reforming fossil fuel subsidies. We find that each of these norms is well placed to contribute to a shift away from a fossil fuel-based economy. However, these norms are often framed in ways that do not account for the distributional impacts of this shift, which may lead to unintended and inequitable consequences. We conclude that AFFNs need to be developed and deployed to actively consider the needs of marginalized communities. Policymakers and non-governmental organizations can work together to develop norms that prioritize addressing equity and distributional justice concerns in the transition away from fossil fuels.