Social Justice and Indigenous Rights in the Energy Transition: An Examination of Taiwan’s Geothermal Development and International Perspectives

As the global energy transition accelerates to combat climate change, the development of renewable resources often raises critical social justice issues. This is particularly evident in Taiwan, where approximately 79% of geothermal zones overlap with Indigenous territories.This study examines challenges to Indigenous rights and social justice during geothermal energy development, which adds value to existing hot springs but risks replicating past conflicts and injustices. By comparing the "top-down" approach in the Hongye community and the "bottom-up" response in the Jinlun area, we analyzed challenges of implementing the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) framework while respecting Indigenous rights. We found that tribal consultations led by local governments or corporations prioritize efficiency over consent. Legal loopholes have been exploited to circumvent consultation, which exacerbates conflict within tribes. We propose a "holistic just transition" framework to supplement conventional procedural, distributive, and recognition justice: "restorative justice" to heal historical trauma, "epistemic sovereignty" to legitimize Indigenous knowledge, and "self-determination" as a community goal. We conceptualize the "social value of energy" and argue that project evaluation must move beyond economic indicators. Finally, we construct a typology of three development models: the Compensatory Model, the Negotiated Coexistence Model, and the Empowerment Partnership Model. To achieve a just and sustainable transition, Taiwan should evolve from the first two models toward the third, which positions Indigenous peoples as co-owners and decision-makers.