Maryam Ghafouri
Climate Change Expert
Department of Environment Protection of Iran
Ms. Maryam Ghafouri has been active in the industry for about ten years. She has been working as a climate change expert at the National Center for Air and Climate Change of the Department of Environment of Iran for over five years. She holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, and she is a graduate of Amirkabir University of Technology. She has conducted research in the fields of wastewater treatment and air purification, and has published articles at the international level.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Leadership
Stakeholder Engagement
Forum 31 | Digital Poster Plaza 5
30
April
12:00
14:00
UTC+3
This review article critically examines the legal and experiential gaps in stakeholder participation within the global transition to clean energy. In the context of climate change and accelerated decarbonization efforts, the study highlights that meaningful participation of diverse stakeholders—from local communities and indigenous groups to private investors and governmental bodies—is essential to achieving a just, equitable, and socially legitimate transition. The research synthesizes literature from legal studies, energy policy, environmental governance, and social sciences to identify persistent challenges and emerging trends in participatory processes.
Using a narrative review method, the analysis draws on recent academic publications (2020–2025), reports of international organizations, and case studies. Key themes include procedural and distributive justice, implementation of the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), digitalization of participation, and the role of corporate accountability. It also addresses decentralization of energy systems, the rise of prosumer (producer-consumer) models, and the often-overlooked social impacts of global critical mineral supply chains.
The findings point to a persistent gap between the normative ideals of participation—as embodied in frameworks such as the Aarhus Convention—and field realities, where procedural engagement often fails to translate into stakeholder influence. The review reveals several deep, interconnected gaps. First, there is a significant divergence between normative analyses, which emphasize the necessity of participation, and the scarcity of systematic empirical evidence assessing the actual effectiveness of participatory mechanisms in delivering fair outcomes. Second, the dominance of Global North perspectives and case studies has led to neglect of the unique political, cultural, and legal contexts of the Global South, constituting a major limitation. Third, insufficient analysis of power dynamics and oversimplification of concepts such as “local community” often reproduce inequalities under the guise of symbolic participation.
The article offers practical recommendations, including strengthening legal mechanisms, enhancing digital inclusion, promoting community-based energy models, and developing statistical metrics to assess participatory justice. Ultimately, it argues that existing legal and governance frameworks—especially in contexts characterized by power asymmetries and legal pluralism—remain inadequate for ensuring genuinely meaningful participation. Addressing these gaps requires adopting interdisciplinary, context-specific, and rights-based approaches that can evaluate implementation complexities alongside legal requirements. By highlighting these gaps, the article proposes future research pathways for scholars and policy priorities for lawmakers to ensure that the clean energy transition is achieved in a more democratic, just, and sustainable manner.
Using a narrative review method, the analysis draws on recent academic publications (2020–2025), reports of international organizations, and case studies. Key themes include procedural and distributive justice, implementation of the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), digitalization of participation, and the role of corporate accountability. It also addresses decentralization of energy systems, the rise of prosumer (producer-consumer) models, and the often-overlooked social impacts of global critical mineral supply chains.
The findings point to a persistent gap between the normative ideals of participation—as embodied in frameworks such as the Aarhus Convention—and field realities, where procedural engagement often fails to translate into stakeholder influence. The review reveals several deep, interconnected gaps. First, there is a significant divergence between normative analyses, which emphasize the necessity of participation, and the scarcity of systematic empirical evidence assessing the actual effectiveness of participatory mechanisms in delivering fair outcomes. Second, the dominance of Global North perspectives and case studies has led to neglect of the unique political, cultural, and legal contexts of the Global South, constituting a major limitation. Third, insufficient analysis of power dynamics and oversimplification of concepts such as “local community” often reproduce inequalities under the guise of symbolic participation.
The article offers practical recommendations, including strengthening legal mechanisms, enhancing digital inclusion, promoting community-based energy models, and developing statistical metrics to assess participatory justice. Ultimately, it argues that existing legal and governance frameworks—especially in contexts characterized by power asymmetries and legal pluralism—remain inadequate for ensuring genuinely meaningful participation. Addressing these gaps requires adopting interdisciplinary, context-specific, and rights-based approaches that can evaluate implementation complexities alongside legal requirements. By highlighting these gaps, the article proposes future research pathways for scholars and policy priorities for lawmakers to ensure that the clean energy transition is achieved in a more democratic, just, and sustainable manner.
