Justice is memory. Coal phase-out, recognition justice, and cultural sustainability in the Spanish energy transition

Abstract

The energy transition from coal to low-carbon models is not just a technological change; it's a cultural and systemic transformation that impacts how individuals and communities perceive themselves in the past, present, and future. This multiple-case study in four regions of Spain historically linked to the coal industry focuses on justice and connects coal phase-out with cultural sustainability, particularly memory and place identity. The methodological design combines official document and grey literature review with news mapping to qualitatively analyze a corpus of 2772 regional newspaper articles. We identified three primary narratives related to recognition injustices, emphasizing the importance of addressing cultural sustainability for a just transition and suggesting greater consideration of sociocultural aspects in transition policies.