Politicising the Just Transition: Linking global climate policy, Nationally Determined Contributions and targeted research agendas
Kirsten Jenkins, Benjamin K. Sovacool, Andrzej Błachowicz, Adrián Lauer
Abstract
During the 2018 COP24 meeting in Poland, the Just Transition received particular emphasis, with the adoption of the “Solidarity and Just Transitions Silesia Declaration”. It represented commitments to take seriously the impact of climate change and climate change policy on workers and surrounding communities. To date, however, UNFCCC historical contexts and commitments have rarely been recognised in the academic literature. This paper reviews the link of the Just Transition to UNFCCC processes and labour unions before critically considering the current academic treatment of the agenda and in particular, the under emphasis of Nationally Determined Contributions. It then presents a series of research recommendations centred on a concern for how best to use this political background to leverage tangible impact.