Global gas flaring and energy justice: An empirical ethics analysis of stakeholder perspectives

Global gas flaring harms human and non-human health well-being while contributing to climate change. Flaring activity in the global oil sector is a significant matter of energy justice – concerning distribution risks, benefits harms, recognition rights, decision-making influence within gas-flaring-affected communities. This mixed method empirical ethical analysis combines Q-methodology stakeholder interviews with representatives 14 countries (n = 35) evaluate context-sensitivity distributive, procedural, recognition, cosmopolitan principles gas-flaring governance. Four dominant normative perspectives emerge around this topic. These concern: a) government-led zero policy; b) multi-scalar economic governance; c) business responsibility social license; d) localism community empowerment. We find that: first, there strong support for zero-flaring globally. Second, coordinated governance from international-national-local regulatory authorities desired protect marginalised Third, egalitarian rights-based approaches are prioritised over utilitarian planning extraction. Fourth, necessitates transparent communication activities impacts Polluter Pays Principle environmental redress affected Finally, disagreement centres upon practical mechanisms achieve just outcomes - including compensation, role local authorities, agencies, Environmental Impact Assessment, efforts tackle rent-seeking corruption. conclude that further engagement needed on implementation processes elimination, rather than goal itself, through carefully facilitated dialogue negotiation.