Solar Technology and Global Environmental Justice

<p>Building on insights from ecological economics and philosophy of technology this book offers a novel interdisciplinary approach to understand the contradictory nature of Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. </p><p>Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is rapidly emerging as a cost-effective option in the world economy. However reports about miserable working conditions environmentally deleterious mineral extraction and toxic waste dumps corrode the image of a problem-free future based on solar power. Against this backdrop Andreas Roos explores whether ‘ecologically unequal exchange’ – an asymmetric transfer of labour time and natural resources – is a necessary condition for solar PV development. He demonstrates how the massive increase in solar PV installation over recent years would not have been possible without significant wage/price differences in the world economy - notably between Europe/North America and Asia- and concludes that solar PV development is currently contingent on environmental injustices in the world economy. As a solution Roos argues that solar technology is best coupled with strategies for degrowth which allow for a transition away from fossil fuels and towards a socially just and ecologically sustainable future. </p><p>This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of solar power philosophy of technology and environmental justice.</p>