JUST TRANSITIONS

This article is part of a short series of three reflections exploring what are just transitions, in a world of more rapid and complex change than ever before, and where the consequences of change can create both opportunities and risks.

These articles were written as part of the project “Accelerating Cities’ Just Transitions through National Platforms”, funded by Porticus in 2023-2024, in which Atelier itd, Dark Matter Labs, Viable Cities and Climate KIC collaborated.

Authors: Nayla Saniour, Irene Ezquerra, Paula Beltrán de Heredia
Collaboration in writing: Marcial Silva, María García Rodríguez
Editing: Caren Camiscia

JUST TRANSITIONS

Authors: Nayla Saniour, Irene Ezquerra, Paula Beltrán de Heredia
Collaboration in writing: Marcial Silva, María García Rodríguez
Editing: Caren Camiscia

Part 1 of 3

WHAT ARE FAIR TRANSITIONS?

A transition is a process in which a change is taking place, whether social, economic, environmental, or a combination of these. It is a movement from one state to another.

Throughout human history, transitions have always occurred. Some were far-reaching transitions, reshaping the development of the societies, economies, cultures and political systems of their time. Examples include the Neolithic transition (from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural societies), the industrial transition (from agrarian and artisanal economies to machine-driven industrialized economies), or the decolonial transition (from colonial domination to independent countries).

The particularity of the current transitions is the extreme interconnection of changes due to globalization, as well as the increase in the speed and complexity of the processes.

We understand transitions in the plural, in terms of time and place. There is a great diversity of transition trends taking place in different parts of the world, at different scales and contexts, and of different natures and rhythms.

These trends are not necessarily novel: sometimes these transitions are a matter of returning to something that has existed before but ceased to be habitual for a time. Nor are they complete or irreversible: some processes start, stop, continue or reverse. Nor are they independent or isolated: on an interdependent planet all these trends influence each other to different extents.

In this series of articles, we will focus on what we call just transitions to sustainability.

Why are we reflecting on just transitions?

We want to establish an expanded concept of just transitions, as collective narratives often link it to employment issues (e.g., job losses due to the closure of fossil fuel power plants), and we consider that transitions have implications and consequences that go beyond this aspect.
We want to engage in practical conversations, based on curiosity and experience, considering what already exists while bringing in new elements. We do not pretend nor do we want to arrive at “exact or perfect” definitions and will avoid entering into long academic debates. These conversations are a starting point, not a final destination.
We want to have a systemic approach (taking into account all the parties involved, benefited or harmed) and a global perspective (contemplating, as far as possible, all the places and the relationships between them). This does not mean that we have to address all elements at the same time, but it does mean highlighting what is beyond our reach.
We want to build a narrative that helps us to position ourselves without contributing to polarization. Our goal is to unite, not divide. We want to be able to communicate with a diversity of actors across the political and social spectrum.

Where to start?

Beginning to discuss and deepen reflection on just transitions implies understanding that the current development model adopted by the vast majority of societies must be modified to mitigate and prevent the negative impacts it is generating on the climate, the environment and social inequalities (Piketty, 2013; Sen, 2016; Stiglitz, 2020; Arias y Costas, 2021).

This need for change is based on the idea that economic prosperity is intrinsically linked to an egalitarian and stable society, as well as healthy ecosystems. Environmental, social and economic dimensions must be considered at the same level to ensure balanced development (Raworth, 2017).

In this context, the State at all its levels acquires a crucial role: it must not limit itself to being a passive regulator of the economy, but must become an active agent, directing innovation and investment towards sustainable development (Mazzucato, 2018). However, this role is hampered by the crisis facing liberal democracy. There is a growing disaffection with the state and a weakening of public administrations and the civil service (Barandiarán et al., 2023; Costas, 2023).

Bibliography

Arias, X. C., & Costas Comesaña, A. (2021). Laberintos de la prosperidad: ¿Hacia una nueva Gran Transformación? (Primera edición). Galaxia Gutenberg.

Barandiarán, X., Canel, M. J., & Bouckaert, G. (Eds.). (2023). Building Collaborative Governance in Times of Uncertainty. Leuven University Press

Costas, A. (2023). Para una política económica democrática. Atlántida Revista Canaria de Ciencias Sociales, 14, 23-44.

Mazzucato, M. (2018). Mission-oriented research & innovation in the European Union: A problem-solving approach to fuel innovation-led growth. European Union.

Piketty, T. (2013). El capital en el siglo XXI. Madrid: Fondo de Cultura Económica de España.

Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics : seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. London : Random House.

Sen, A. (2009). The idea of justice. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Stiglitz, J. E. (2020). People, power, and profits: Progressive capitalism for an age of discontent (First published as a Norton paperback). W.W. Norton & Company.

Part 1 of 3

WHAT ARE FAIR TRANSITIONS?

WHAT ARE
FAIR TRANSITIONS?

A transition is a process in which a change is taking place, whether social, economic, environmental, or a combination of these. It is a movement from one state to another.

The particularity of the current transitions is the extreme interconnection of changes due to globalization, as well as the increase in the speed and complexity of the processes.

In this series of articles, we will focus on what we call just transitions to sustainability.

Why are we reflecting on just transitions?

We want to establish an expanded concept of just transitions, as collective narratives often link it to employment issues (e.g., job losses due to the closure of fossil fuel power plants), and we consider that transitions have implications and consequences that go beyond this aspect.
We want to engage in practical conversations, based on curiosity and experience, considering what already exists while bringing in new elements. We do not pretend nor do we want to arrive at “exact or perfect” definitions and will avoid entering into long academic debates. These conversations are a starting point, not a final destination.
We want to have a systemic approach (taking into account all the parties involved, benefited or harmed) and a global perspective (contemplating, as far as possible, all the places and the relationships between them). This does not mean that we have to address all elements at the same time, but it does mean highlighting what is beyond our reach.
We want to build a narrative that helps us to position ourselves without contributing to polarization. Our goal is to unite, not divide. We want to be able to communicate with a diversity of actors across the political and social spectrum.

Why are we reflecting on just transitions?

We want to establish an expanded concept of just transitions, as collective narratives often link it to employment issues (e.g., job losses due to the closure of fossil fuel power plants), and we consider that transitions have implications and consequences that go beyond this aspect.
We want to engage in practical conversations, based on curiosity and experience, considering what already exists while bringing in new elements. We do not pretend nor do we want to arrive at “exact or perfect” definitions and will avoid entering into long academic debates. These conversations are a starting point, not a final destination.
We want to have a systemic approach (taking into account all the parties involved, benefited or harmed) and a global perspective (contemplating, as far as possible, all the places and the relationships between them). This does not mean that we have to address all elements at the same time, but it does mean highlighting what is beyond our reach.
We want to build a narrative that helps us to position ourselves without contributing to polarization. Our goal is to unite, not divide. We want to be able to communicate with a diversity of actors across the political and social spectrum.

Where to start?

Bibliography

Arias, X. C., & Costas Comesaña, A. (2021). Laberintos de la prosperidad: ¿Hacia una nueva Gran Transformación? (Primera edición). Galaxia Gutenberg.

Barandiarán, X., Canel, M. J., & Bouckaert, G. (Eds.). (2023). Building Collaborative Governance in Times of Uncertainty. Leuven University Press

Costas, A. (2023). Para una política económica democrática. Atlántida Revista Canaria de Ciencias Sociales, 14, 23-44.

Mazzucato, M. (2018). Mission-oriented research & innovation in the European Union: A problem-solving approach to fuel innovation-led growth. European Union.

Piketty, T. (2013). El capital en el siglo XXI. Madrid: Fondo de Cultura Económica de España.

Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics : seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. London : Random House.

Sen, A. (2009). The idea of justice. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Stiglitz, J. E. (2020). People, power, and profits: Progressive capitalism for an age of discontent (First published as a Norton paperback). W.W. Norton & Company.

Bibliography

Arias, X. C., & Costas Comesaña, A. (2021). Laberintos de la prosperidad: ¿Hacia una nueva Gran Transformación? (Primera edición). Galaxia Gutenberg.

Barandiarán, X., Canel, M. J., & Bouckaert, G. (Eds.). (2023). Building Collaborative Governance in Times of Uncertainty. Leuven University Press

Costas, A. (2023). Para una política económica democrática. Atlántida Revista Canaria de Ciencias Sociales, 14, 23-44.

Mazzucato, M. (2018). Mission-oriented research & innovation in the European Union: A problem-solving approach to fuel innovation-led growth. European Union.

Piketty, T. (2013). El capital en el siglo XXI. Madrid: Fondo de Cultura Económica de España.

Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics : seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. London : Random House.

Sen, A. (2009). The idea of justice. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Stiglitz, J. E. (2020). People, power, and profits: Progressive capitalism for an age of discontent (First published as a Norton paperback). W.W. Norton & Company.

Do you want to know more?

To read the next article: ARE TODAY’S TRANSITIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY SOCIALLY JUST?
If you want to learn more about our approach and work, you can find us at atelieritd.org

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the members of the Atelier itd, itdUPM, Dark Matter Labs, Viable Cities and Climate KIC teams who contributed to the co-creation of these evolving reflections. Also, to Porticus for their invaluable support on this exploratory journey.

Do you want to know more?

To read the next article: ARE TODAY’S TRANSITIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY SOCIALLY JUST?
If you want to learn more about our approach and work, you can find us at atelieritd.org

Do you want to know more?

To read the next article: ARE TODAY’S TRANSITIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY SOCIALLY JUST?
If you want to learn more about our approach and work, you can find us at atelieritd.org

Acknowledgements