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Policies for a Just Transition

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The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures

Synonyms

Equitable Transitions; Sustainable Economies

Definition

The protection of workers’ rights, livelihoods, and communities that are negatively impacted by the transition to sustainable production and a post-carbon economy. The “just transitions” framework entails a political imperative, a policy goal, and a set of practices to equitably manage this transition.

Introduction

The concept of a “just transition” is at once an agenda for sociotechnical transformation; a call for social, economic, and environmental justice; and a political imperative to manage the decarbonization of economies. At its core, it speaks to the importance of recognizing the rights and needs of workers and communities impacted by polluting and carbon-intensive industries and their transitions.

The concept of a just transition emerged in the American labor movement in the 1970s and subsequently gained prominence through the work of unions and social activists in other countries and globally. For an overview of...

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Correspondence to Tamara Krawchenko .

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Krawchenko, T., Gordon, M. (2022). Policies for a Just Transition. In: Brears, R.C. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_95

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