Student Publications [Scholarly]

Beneath the surface, injustice boils: Environmental justice struggles against geothermal energy in Turkey

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, Turkey has increased its renewable energy investments partly to follow the global driving forces of decarbonisation enforced by the international climate change regime, partly to attract finance from international financial institutions, and partly to substitute imported fossil fuel (mainly natural gas) with “domestic and national” energy. The rapid increase in renewable investments, coupled with the increasing authoritarian neoliberalism of the government, has taken a heavy toll on the local communities by destroying their livelihoods and violating their political rights, leading to an increasing number of local resistance movements against hydro, wind, and geothermal power plants (GPPs). In this article, we aim to examine the multidimensionality of the injustices arising from the increased number of GPPs in Turkey, particularly in Büyük Menderes and Gediz Grabens in Western Anatolia. A textual analysis of numerous reports, news articles, press releases, and videos was conducted to identify the stakeholders and the alternatives they suggest and to understand environmental justice issues surrounding the conflicts around these GPPs. Subsequently, in-depth interviews and participant observation were used to support this analysis during fieldwork in Aydın's Mezeköy village. Our analysis shows that GPPs in the area severely harm agricultural output, expropriate local communities' means of subsistence and destroy their living spaces, and only serve the business's interests. This inequality is further exacerbated by the increasing authoritarianism of the government (standing beside the business), resulting in the deprivation of the cultural, political, and moral rights of the local people. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication Title

Energy Research and Social Science

Publication Date

12-2025

Volume

130

ISSN

2214-6296

DOI

10.1016/j.erss.2025.104412

Keywords

decarbonisation, energy justice, geothermal energy, local protests, neoliberalization

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