A Human Rights Approach to Sustainable Energy

ABSTRACT Energy is one of humanity's most significant and vital needs for sustainable development. Due to the importance of energy in human life, the view that access to energy should be recognized as a human right is becoming widespread; however, advocates generally do not distinguish between clean energy and dirty energy in the course of such discussions. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study is to discuss the scope of the right to energy by analyzing the effects of fossil fuels on human rights. To achieve this aim, face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews were conducted in the Kayışdağ Neighborhood, Istanbul, where the use of coal is widespread. We conclude that access to dirty energy sources is not a human right due to the associated risks to the enjoyment of the rights to environment, life, and property. The right to energy thus only encompasses clean and sustainable energy sources.