A public values perspective on energy justice: Building a theoretical lens for understanding decision-making in the energy transition

Energy justice literature provides no clear indications on why energy justice is sometimes not safeguarded in decision-making processes. What is needed is a theoretical understanding of how decision-makers balance different considerations. Drawing on public values theory, we build a theoretical lens for understanding decision-making in the energy transition. Through this lens, we recognize that decision-makers can (i) altogether overlook justice, (ii) misunderstand justice as something other than energy justice, or (iii) sideline energy justice. To analyze decision-making processes through this lens, we introduce a three-step research approach. The first step involves mapping the multitude of public values at stake in energy system change. The second and third steps focus on identifying which public values are pursued and how decision-makers balance these values. In this article, we cover the first step by presenting a public values categorization based on literature review, thereby providing a stepping stone for future research using the public values approach. Ultimately, the public values approach offers essential insights into whether and how decision-makers in the energy transition consider and balance justice concerns. These insights can serve as starting points for more in-depth studies on the factors shaping decision-makers' value orientations and decision-making processes. As such, the theoretical approach presented in this paper provides the basis for developing an understanding of decision-making in the energy transition and its impact on energy justice.