Energy Governance, Environmental Justice and Legal Pluralism in the Global South

Energy governance in the Global South is shaped by the interaction of multiple legal, social, and normative orders such as customary and informal governance systems, creating complex challenges for the pursuit of sustainable development and environmental justice (Sovacool 2016; Heffron and McCauley 2017). While contemporary energy and environmental regimes increasingly emphasise equity, participation, and sustainability, regulatory outcomes in many resources dependent economies continue to reproduce environmental harm and social inequality (Newell and Mulvaney 2013; Knox 2018). This article examines the relationship between energy law, environmental justice, and legal pluralism, arguing that formal regulatory frameworks alone are insufficient to address entrenched distributive, procedural and recognitional injustices (Schlosberg 2007; Griffiths 1986).