Foreword

An increasingly vital concept in policy discourse surrounding carbon-reduction goals is that of a just transition. However, there is also a need for a deeper understanding of rural actors’ agency in these processes. This publication is one of the outcomes of the project titled “A Just Green Transition in Rural Areas: Local Benefits from Value Creation.” The project began by exploring the complexity of the concept of just green transitions in the (Nordic) rural context. The case studies conducted an in-depth examination at local level to understand how local-level needs and characteristics impact the area’s capacity to extract benefits from a new energy installation and how this affects the social acceptance of these projects and the green transition in general. This report details the results of case studies conducted in three Nordic countries and six Nordic municipalities, with the aim of mapping the array of local benefits (and obstacles) related to green energy transition projects. This undertaking is part of a Nordic co-operation and has been implemented under the thematic group: Green and Inclusive Rural Development in the Nordics (2021–2024).