Just Transitions and Labor

The case for an environmental labor geography: The role of organized labor in the climate crisis

“…A shift toward small-scale geographically dispersed systems as opposed to our current centralized large-scale projects, could negatively affect union density and job stability (see Huber and Stafford (2022)). Renewable energy technologies, although desirable, often involve less skilled labor (Carr, 2022) and the same precarious working conditions as in other industries (Kojola and Agyeman, 2021) (consider e.g., Mulvaney’s (2013); (2014) research from an environmental justice perspective on PV manufacturing and health risk for workers). In another example, the concept of spatial embeddedness explains how the dependency on fossil fuel consumption in the form of individual automobility has shaped the urban landscape (Bridge et al, 2013).…”

“…Just transition as a project, however, comprises a broad set of ideas and demands. Kojola and Agyeman (2021) identify different ideological approaches to the concept ranging from neoliberal, state-centered green Keynesianism to ecosocialist views. Stevis and Felli (2015) and Sweeney and Treat (2018) distinguish between different union approaches to just transition which drastically range from adjusting to green growth paradigms to questioning issues of ownership and control over power production.…”

2 Circular Oikonomia, Posthumanism and Local Space to Socialise Tourism

“…However, this is not necessarily in prickly isolation but rather in related localisms, as explained in the Introduction. These practices must also engage with leading thinking on 'just transitions' which are emerging from dialogues on climate change, energy transitions, environmental justice and just sustainabilities (Kojola & Agyeman, 2021). Just transitions require addressing crises and challenges through approaches centring equity, inclusivity of diverse people and respect for human rights, with particular emphasis on real involvement of people in the development, implementation and enforcement of measures for transition (see Heff ron & McCauley, 2018).…”