Hidden Energy Flows: Justice and Responsibility in Outsourcing Goods and Services

Abstract: Who is responsible for the impacts produced by the current energy system, good producers or good consumers? The aim of this paper has been to discuss how to be aware of impacts and their respective citizens’ responsibilities, due to the outsourcing of production chains of Global North countries to Global South ones. Recognition of the total energy consumption of the so-called developed countries plays an important role in this conflict. Currently, the total energy consumption of the Global North life styles is not internationally recognized, and this makes it harder to understand what the current “exemplary sustainable energy countries” to be followed are. Based on Input-Output analysis, this paper aims to discuss solutions to avoid the Hidden Energy Flows effect in international energy justice.