Justice Underpinning Science and Technology Research Catalyzer

Decarbonizing the energy sector presents a unique opportunity to consider and address injustices associated with the existing energy system, as well as the energy technology research, development, and deployment practices that underpin it. By introducing energy justice considerations early on in energy research and prioritizing them throughout the technology development process, researchers can avoid costs and time delays associated with late identification of negative social impacts and help to achieve a more just and sustainable energy system. 

The Justice Underpinning Science and Technology Research (JUST-R) framework provides researchers a tool to integrate justice considerations into early-stage research and development of energy technologies. To increase accessibility and promote use of these metrics, JISEA’s JUST-R Catalyzer seeks to develop the JUST-R framework into an interactive online tool, expand it to apply to research across more technology readiness levels, and grow its impact by connecting the JUST-R tool to potential industry, academic, and government partners.

Upcoming Public Events

March 3–8, 2024: Developing Metrics to Assess Justice & Equity Impacts of Early-Stage Research, American Physical Society March Meeting (Nikita S. Dutta)

Metrics in the JUST-R framework are organized across Responsible Research and Innovation dimensions, tenets of energy justice, and Technology Readiness Levels. Graphic by Liz Craig, NREL