About
Our planet is in crisis. We have three years left to limit the already irreversible damage human activity has had on the climate and the environment – otherwise we will run into a full-blown catastrophe.
A major step towards limiting climate change is the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. But not all regions of Europe or indeed the world are equally equipped to face such change. In addition, under-represented groups will be further marginalised should the transition not be made in an equitable way.
How will underprivileged families already experiencing energy poverty face an increase in energy costs if renewables are made to be more expensive? How will the workers in former coal mining regions find jobs ? How can agriculture be made greener while supporting small-scale farmers? What would the transition look like in the polluting aviation industry? And what is the impact of our current economic model on nature and native populations in the global South? How does climate change relate to refugees? Does the Just Transition Mechanism proposed by the European Commission address inequalities based on race, gender, class, sexuality, ability?
Whether we are thinking about the evolving climate crisis, the urgent need for geopolitical energy autonomy or the detrimental impact of the extractive economy on communities and nature around the world, it is clear that Europe faces a crucial challenge: it needs to transition its economy incredibly quickly towards one that provides everyone with the opportunity to live a good life within planetary boundaries. But the faster one needs to change, the greater the risk of people and regions being left behind. The development and implementation of a just transition is therefore essential for the times we are living in. What kinds of policy and funding do we need to make the transition happen in an equitable way, ensuring that the fundamental rights of all are guaranteed in an inclusive society? And how does this translate into the divergent realities of different regions in Europe, and in the Global South?
Our new book A European Just Transition for a Better World includes contributions from voices on the ground, from across Europe and the world.
Events
Book Launch in Brussels
Book Launch in Skopje
