Integrating energy justice and earth observation to examine the social dimensions of hydroelectric dams

Abstract

Hydropower is increasingly promoted as a cornerstone of global low-carbon energy transitions, yet the long-term social consequences of large dams remain inadequately understood. Existing assessments often focus on short-term displacement and overlook evolving socio-spatial harms that persist well beyond construction. This study addresses this gap by applying an interdisciplinary energy justice framework to the Tehri Dam in the Indian Himalaya nearly two decades after its commissioning. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and Earth Observation analysis, we examine how affected communities experience distributional, procedural, recognition, capabilities, and restorative injustices across space and time. The findings reveal that injustices extend far beyond physical relocation. Communities continue to face sustained livelihood loss, reduced access to health and education services, long-term isolation caused by disrupted connectivity, and heightened environmental risks such as land subsidence. These indirect and cumulative harms remain largely invisible in conventional impact assessments. By integrating spatial evidence with lived experiences, the study demonstrates how Earth Observation can uncover hidden and emerging inequalities associated with large-scale energy infrastructure. This research advances energy justice scholarship by foregrounding the spatial and temporal dimensions of hydropower impacts and by illustrating the value of mixed-methods approaches for sustainability research. The findings underscore the need for policy frameworks that recognize both material and non-material losses and support more equitable, community-centred energy transitions in vulnerable regions.