Open Access

REVIEW

From Energy Poverty to Just Urban Transition: Mapping the Knowledge Evolution of Energy Justice and Social Resilience (2011–2026)

Wulin Wang¹, Jing Lei¹, Xia Yuan^1,*, Ziheng Shangguan^1,2
1 School of Public Administration, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China
2 Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
* Corresponding Author: Xia Yuan. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Urbanization, Energy Justice, and Social Resilience: Governance Challenges and Innovations)

Energy Engineering https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2026.085545

Received 13 May 2026; Accepted 26 June 2026; Published online 24 July 2026

Abstract

Rapid urbanization, climate change, and the accelerating energy transition are reshaping urban governance while exacerbating inequalities in energy access, vulnerability, and resilience. To address the increasing fragmentation of academic research in the fields of energy poverty, energy justice, and social resilience, this study employs bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph methods to analyze 403 articles from the Web of Science database between 2011 and 2026, systematically tracing the development of this interdisciplinary field. The study uses the CiteSpace visualization tool to examine publication trajectories, collaboration networks, thematic clusters, and temporal dynamics. The results reveal a clear paradigm shift: initially welfare-oriented, focusing on household energy poverty and material deprivation; subsequently shifting to a governance-centric approach emphasizing energy justice; and ultimately, developing an emerging resilience-based framework dedicated to achieving equitable urban transformation. Based on this evolution, this study proposes the concept of “Just Urban Transition”, a comprehensive framework that integrates energy poverty, energy justice, and social resilience as mutually reinforcing pillars of equitable urban transformation. This framework emphasizes that a successful urban energy transition must simultaneously address climate, social equity, and adaptability. By tracing the shift from welfare-oriented research on energy poverty to justice- and resilience-centered urban governance, this study contributes a longitudinal synthesis of knowledge and provides a new conceptual foundation for future research and policies aimed at building inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities.

---

Keywords

Energy poverty; just urban transition; energy justice; social resilience; bibliometric analysis

---