Currently, there is no universally accepted definition of what makes a just green transition. Instead, various stakeholders promote different views on what a just green transition should look like and by whom it should be achieved.
The concept has also undergone a considerable historical evolution (see below).
In the NJUST project, we understand the just green transition as a process of far-reaching sociotechnical change which leads to a more sustainable and climate-neutral future, preserves biodiversity, and ensures social justice.
In the academic literature, the concept of justice is generally understood as encompassing different dimensions
Bennet, N J., Blythe, J., Cisneros-Montemayor, A M., Singh, G G. & Sumaila, U R. (2019). Just transformations to sustainability. Sustainability, 11, 3881.
:
Recognitional justice: Whose voices and perspectives are recognised? This dimension asks if and how the rights, needs, and perspectives of different groups are acknowledged and valued during the green transition.
Procedural justice: Who is involved? This dimension asks how various population groups participate and have influence in decision-making processes during the green transition. It also focuses on the quality and inclusiveness of participatory processes.
Distributional justice: Who pays and who benefits? This dimension is concerned with how different groups benefit or incur harms by green transition policies.
Justice is not only an outcome of the green transition, but a concept that can inform policymaking processes themselves.
The different justice dimensions have guided the development of the Nordic toolbox for a just green transition. For example, in the priority area “Engage people” we address recognitional and procedural justice, while the priority area “Assess and mitigate social and regional impacts” focuses on distributional justice.
A brief history of the “just transition” concept
1970s-1980s
The concept of a “just transition” has its roots in the US labour movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Trade unions invoked it as a strategy to safeguard workers in the Rust and Coal Belts who were affected by new environmental regulations. The aim was to ensure that these workers were not disproportionately impacted by such policies.
2000s
In the early 2000s, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) adopted the idea of a just transition, calling for social protection and job creation as part of climate policy.
At the COP24 in Katowice, more than 50 countries signed the Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration, recognising the need to protect the workforce and to create decent jobs during the green transition.
2019
The just transition concept is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal, aiming for economic growth while simultaneously reaching climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. The Just Transition Mechanism financially supports European regions facing negative socioeconomic impacts from the green transition.
In the same year, the Nordic Prime Ministers adopted “Our Vision 2030” - to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. This includes the goal to make the green transition an inclusive process and to increase equality in the Nordic Region.
2024
Following the European elections in June 2024, the EU defined a set of priority areas for the years 2024-2029. The priorities were developed in dialogue between EU leaders, national ministers, EU institutions and EU parliamentarians. The set of priorities includes the goal of making the green and digital transitions a success.
Recommended further reading
Bennet, N.J., Blythe, J., Cisneros-Montemayor, A.M., Singh, G.G. & Sumaila, U.R. (2019). Just transformations to sustainability. Sustainability, 11, 3881.