Evaluating and advancing equity in energy transitions


Based on S. Kime et al. Environmental Research Letters DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ad08f8 (2023).

Justice and equity metrics for researchers, communities, and policy makers.

The Policy Problem


Energy transition policies, if not carefully implemented, can create or exacerbate inequities, particularly affecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), low-income, and other frontline communities. While there is broad recognition that equity and justice are critical to the transition, a lack of metrics for evaluating outcomes hampers effective policymaking. To address this, we’ve constructed an analytical framework to evaluate justice and equity impacts of energy transitions.

Key Findings and Proposed Solutions


  • Evaluating equity within energy transitions is complex and depends on the the type of transition, population characteristics, and historical injustices within a given region

  • In order to support equity and justice evaluation, our framework categorizes metrics into three dimensions–health, access, and livelihood–each with a specific set of indicators and examples of associated metrics

  • Metrics can be adapted and combined with relevant socioeconomic and demographic data to evaluate impacts across communities, providing flexibility for tailored use in different contexts

  • You can learn more and explore specific indicators and metrics on our website.