Evaluating the Just Transition to effect policy change

It is an undeniable fact that the world faces environmental and climate crises of epic proportions. What is also clear to see is the social and political impacts of these crises across states and societies. The world must transition to a green economy marked by low carbon GHG emissions urgently (by 2050), and the efforts to move to a green economy must be carried out with justice for all of those affected. This has been encapsulated within the concept of the just transition. The academic and policy literature has been proliferated with conceptions of energy justice, environmental justice, climate justice, sustainability, and sustainable development, all grounded in the core understanding that without justice, a transition away from fossil fuels will be incomplete. Yet, the proliferation of these concepts has not come with clarity about their meaning or with a clear roadmap about how these concepts can be applied through policy to make a meaningful difference across local and global contexts. 

We invite doctoral research that contributes to this academic and policy literature by addressing any of the following themes:

1. In what ways can justice be conceptualised in the context of a just transition? 

This question could be addressed through insights from multiple disciplines such as philosophy, economics, political science, or law.

Different concepts that incorporate justice – social justice, transitional justice, energy justice, environmental justice, climate justice - could also be used to feature an evaluation of the concept and its implications for policy.

In what ways can justice for humans and nonhumans be unified in the context of a just transition? 

What is the role of human rights (in legal, philosophical, political, or symbolic terms) in the concept of a just transition?

What is the meaning of space and time (in terms of chronology or location but also in relation to perception) in the concept of a just transition?

How do these conceptions of justice enhance or limit the design and implementation of policies for a transition to a green economy?

2. What processes can be used to understand the meaning of justice in the context of a just transition?

What role can individuals and communities play in connecting the conceptual and empirical aspects of the just transition?

To what extent can 'citizen-centred' research methods overcome political and bureaucratic hurdles in accelerating a just transition? 

How can collective action problems be overcome to achieve community buy-in for just transition policies?