Research Theme: Just Transitions
The emphasis of social impacts in climate-related policy, or the ‘just transition’ is an important and growing area of international, national and regional interest. As transitions are often contested, there is a need to understand the complexities and competing accounts for just transitions if the concept is to remain suitable for delivering climate justice.
‘Just Transitions’ is understood in the plural and what they mean/entail for various constituencies around the world, from local to global scales. There is no one template for countries or communities to follow.
The Priestley Centre’s Just Transitions theme explores how the social, cultural, political and economic processes characterizing the transition to a post-fossil fuel world shape justice processes and outcomes.
Collectively we aim to create and collate evidence and contribute to the public debate to support different understandings, projects and struggles of the social dynamics associated with climate-related policy. We seek to uncover injustices in the way policy and decision-making is implemented, recognise potentially regressive effects on those who have less ability to shape policy direction, and identify solutions for more just implementation.
Just transitions are often contested processes, making them a political matter. We are therefore interested in mapping up the different actors, their interests, their relations and the processes of contestation they are engaged in.
If you’re interested in working with us on any issues related to just transitions, please contact [email protected]
For colleagues at the University of Leeds, please see the dedicated SharePoint page for further details and resources on the Just Transitions theme.
