Abstract
Marine Energy Transitions (METs) are reshaping coastal regions across the UK, offering opportunities for decarbonisation and economic renewal but also risking the reinforcement of long‑standing inequalities. This Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) synthesises 181 sources to examine how the concept of just transition has been and is framed, governed, and experienced in three coastal case studies: Orkney, North East Scotland, and the Humber Estuary. Across all regions, communities encounter METs not as isolated moments of change but as cumulative transitions shaped by the legacies of earlier maritime and energy industries. These legacies influence current vulnerabilities, patterns of economic dependency, and the distribution of burdens and benefits.
The evidence shows that governance of marine energy remains largely centralised and reactive, weakening local influence over planning and creating procedural injustices, especially where communities face the impacts of development without meaningful roles in shaping it. Burdens such as housing pressure, service strain, cultural disruption, and loss of access to marine space tend to fall locally, while many economic benefits flow to distant supply chains and investors. Mechanisms for retaining value - through community benefit schemes, ownership models, or statutory obligations - are inconsistent and limited for marine renewable energy.
Cultural identity and sense of place play a critical role in how coastal communities understand fairness. Histories tied to fishing, seafaring, and marine industries shape expectations of what coastal futures should look like. Transitions that disrupt these identities or change coastal landscapes can be perceived as unjust even when economic gains accompany them. Participation challenges further compound inequities, and many coastal communities lack the financial, technical, or organisational capacity to engage effectively in complex planning processes, leading to tokenistic consultation and reduced trust.
With processes already underway in the UK that will shape current and future offshore energy policy and regulatory reform, this review provides an evidence‑base grounded in the experiences of coastal communities at the centre of METs. The findings highlight clear opportunities for more equitable transitions. Anticipatory, place‑based planning could help address cumulative impacts and avoid repeating boom–bust cycles. Stronger coordination across governance levels - supported by stable structures that link local knowledge with regional and national decision‑making - could improve alignment between policy ambitions and coastal realities. More consistent and transparent approaches to community benefit would help ensure value generated from marine energy resources is shared locally. Long‑term investment in community capacity and leadership is also essential to ensure communities can participate on equal footing and shape transition pathways that reflect local priorities, identities, and aspirations.
The evidence demonstrates that without deliberate action, METs risk reproducing historical inequalities rather than addressing them. Delivering a just transition for coastal communities requires governance that is place‑responsive, participatory, and attentive to the interlinked dimensions of distributive, procedural, recognitional, and restorative justice.