A Just Transition And Climate Change

 A just transition is a broad concept that encompasses the shift of the world from climate harming and environmentally polluting practices to ways that are good for the environment while being socially fair and just, and promoting economic prosperity.

It is basically pegged on sustainable development – social equity, environmentally healthy and economically viable.

The shift towards green economies will affect the world economically and basically sectors and people who have relied on fossil fuels for decades to earn a livelihood and for economic development.

Therefore this transition needs to be just – to take into account the rights of workers and to be carried out in such a way that economies are able to adjust accordingly without taking too  much of a hit.

This includes also social dialogue which is holding consultative forums with ordinary citizens and frontline communities on climate positive development and explaining the benefits of abandoning the use of fossil fuels in favor of climate safe renewable energy and other strategies.

People’s opinions and concerns must be taken into account. This is the case especially for mitigation and adaptation projects. Some mitigation projects may affect the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples who live with, co-exist with and safeguard nature. They rely on natural resources for cultural, spiritual and economic purposes.

So, strategies such as completely removing them from indigenous lands (e.g. forests) or denying them access to the same can be received negatively by such communities since that has been their home for centuries. Such may be in an effort to protect forests from destruction and encroachment and safeguard their carbon sequestration roles.

Nature - Image Iwaria/Tomas Forgac

Preserving entire green areas for carbon credit schemes is a good idea but it excludes groups who previously used the land for a livelihood from using it anymore. This includes herders and pastoralists or hunter/gatherer communities like the Ogiek.

Though well meaning, this can disadvantage such groups and the right way is to share the financial proceeds of environmental conservation with local communities so that they can see the benefits from an economic perspective, and also serve as an alternative way of earning livelihoods.

Also educating and sensitizing them on how to take care of the environment while benefitting likewise is appropriate.

Big hydropower and solar projects also take up community land and inconvenience locals. A solution might be to employ more of the local populace in constructing and running of such plants, while also providing this clean power at a discounted rate. Another thing is to build social amenities such as schools, hospitals and roads for the community.

Not only so, but in areas where displacements will occur in order to make room for such projects, people must be resettled in good areas and fairly compensated for their losses.

All this spurs economic growth and creates social goodwill.

Fossil fuels and woodfuel have been a source of cheap though climate polluting energy especially for poor or rural communities. But the shift to renewable energy may disadvantage these people because of lack of access to such clean energy and it being expensive. This might contribute to energy poverty. Carbon taxes when not well handled can cause energy to be more expensive which hits the poorest hardest.

Therefore, a just transition will first look at creating awareness in such groups concerning the effects of fossil fuels on the environment and climate, while also providing clean and accessible energy to them.

Another aspect of just transition is to respect the rights of communities to their lands. Fossil fuel and big infrastructure projects can infringe on community lands which are important e.g. sacred sites or burial sites. It is important to respect the people’s rights in such case.

Fossil fuel pipelines have been known to disrespect such concerns and thus cause friction and conflict with such communities.

This is also the case in especially biodiverse areas and places of vast ecological importance such as game parks, watersheds and other protected areas.

Sensitive areas housing rare species of wildlife, water sources such as forests and national reserves may suffer irreparable harm from infrastructure projects such as pipelines, railway lines or roads cutting through them.

All wildlife has an inherent right to exist and does not exist solely at the pleasure of man or for exploitation purposes.

For years, environmentally harmful projects such as incinerators, landfills, dumping sites and fracking sites have been situated in low income neighborhoods, near poor communities or where people of color live. This has resulted to cancer, respiratory and reproductive diseases and polluted water and air. This lowers the quality of life and lifespan for these people. It is therefore blatant disregard for the rights of these people to life and a clean environment.

This is also the case for coal miners who end up suffering from black lung disease. A just transition respects the right to energy but also the rights of people such as to good health and a clean environment.

In terms of environmental justice, climate action is arguably healthy for the planet and people.

When it comes to employment and jobs, transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy will result to a loss of 6 million jobs but renewables are projected to create about 18 million jobs.

Therefore, the ones losing their jobs should be retrained and absorbed into these new jobs. They will need jobs with similar remuneration or higher perks.

Climate action should be people oriented. It should be bottom-up not just top-down. Grassroots communities must have a say in climate affairs and projects. Consensus is very important for climate action to be successful at the bottom of the pyramid. People must feel included, and not just told what to do.

Creation of awareness and climate education is thus necessary in order to ensure that a large majority of the citizenry understand climate change and all its different facets while embracing climate action.

An informed population will drive social and political change, because they will even vote in the right leaders.

The principle of common but differentiated responsibility says that we all have a responsibility to mother Earth and especially to climate. We have a responsibility to protect that Earth rather than overexploit and damage it for our benefit.

In terms of climate change, everyone and every nation in the globe has to cut emissions and embrace adaptation while minimizing and averting loss and damage. But the levels of responsibility differs. Historically and currently, the highest emitters of greenhouse gases are western nations and the G20 in particular. 75% of emissions come from this countries – just a handful – though the wealthiest.

The effects however are felt by majority of the world who are arguably innocent of causing climate change - small island states (big ocean states), African states and ecosystems and wildlife. The effects of climate change including droughts, wildfires, storms and the like cause massive economic damage and loss of life which is costly. Climate justice therefore rightfully demands that these nations take responsibility and cut emissions.

Respective capabilities implies that nations cut emissions as they are able to. Turning economies to a green trajectory might be relatively costly because it need tons of financial resources to invest into green energy and turn systems of production and the entire economy green. This can be achieved through abandoning fossil fuels and using those resources to invest in clean energy.

However, not all nations have such capacity. For developing nations, the priority is first on economic development though this can be done in a green manner.

Just transition also touches on future generations. We have to protect the Earth and its climate for the sake of future generations and not just for ourselves. We must be just and fair to the unborn and young. If we don’t act, they will inherit a planet facing the serious effects of crossing the 1.5 degrees threshold of warming as laid out in the Paris Agreement, yet this is none of their fault.

Economically, creating subsidies to incentivize use of green energy and making manufacture of solar panels/small hydro cheaper by removing taxes can promote uptake of clean energy and encourage especially rural communities to be independent of mains electricity and use off grid solar energy.

Making solar power storage batteries widely available is also a good idea.

Public procurement can be used to incentivize environmentally sound businesses. Having requirements in tendering processes that promote environmental sustainability will encourage green businesses and shift the business sector towards being conscious of the environmental impact of their activities.

Public money e.g. in budgets can be used to build green infrastructure, climate proof existing infrastructure or put into climate mitigation by planting forests or restoring wetlands.

Also, it would be advisable to encourage use of green technologies by encouraging innovation especially in factories, schools and other centers of learning.

Speaking of this, teaching about the environment and sensitizing the youth from an early age and in learning institutions will cause them to grow up with a keen sense of environmental awareness. This is important because it will result to a society that recognizes the inherent and central value of the environment. The young are the future politicians, business people, homemakers, parents, workers, teachers, opinion shapers, engineers and other professionals.

Governments can also require or provide green certification e.g. for agricultural extension officers trained in crop production that is organic and sustainable, or for renewable energy practitioners.

Green certification standards can be used to ensure organizations and institutions are safe for the environment and discourage climate harming activities.

Research into the impact of climate policies and subsequent correction or elevation can be used to foster a just transition.

Likewise, just transition efforts must be included in climate plans (nationally determined contributions), adaptation plans as well as including them in all development plans.

Co-operation especially in sharing and transferring of technical expertise internationally, regionally and locally is important. This is also between scientific institutions and businesses, enterprise owners and farmers in order to train them on the best ways to undertake climate action without losing jobs or compromising economic productivity.

Incorporation of traditional and indigenous knowledge and respecting the custodians of it will foster goodwill and further climate action.

We need all hands on deck.

Another important point is to ensure that groups such as women, youth and disabled people have access to green jobs and economic opportunities by use of laws and policies. Enforcement of quotas can ensure the equal participation of these groups and hence promote a just transition and fairness in climate action. Everyone is included.

At the same time, in order not to disadvantage workers who have been in the fossil fuel sector for long, special consideration should be given to them without forms of discrimination such as ageism. The goal is to ensure that livelihoods are protected by offering them an alternative means of earning an income which is climate friendly.

A just transition looks at the rights of everyone, and aims towards transitioning the planet towards a climate safe pathway that generates economic prosperity while maintaining environmental integrity and social equity.