Just Transition: An Introduction
EcoResolution was founded on the understanding that our ecological degradation, mental health crises, and community breakdown are interconnected symptoms of systemic failures. While the climate movement has for a long time been captured in the image of a polar bear and melting ice caps, it is just as much a threat to human rights, rooted in social injustice; the commodification of people; suppressed voices; economic inequality; political domination; and the unfettered extraction and exploitation of vulnerable communities to benefit those in power. Indigenous people (also called First Nation, Aboriginal, or Native peoples) carry their own culture and ethnicity down through generations; one both preceding and distinct from the mainstream/settler society – such as on the American continent. Tribal people, by contrast, are distinguished from other areas of society at large by the full retention of their own social, cultural, and economic traditions (as opposed to practicing partial integration).
The climate crisis stems back to a centuries-long history of colonialism and continues to be fuelled by the extractive legacy of slavery. Furthermore, environmental racism is prevalent across our planet: from increased exposure to toxic pollutants, through to the disproportionate impacts of climate change; we will not achieve racial, social and climate justice if we do not address the root causes that continue to perpetuate them all.
Growing polarisation, emerging conflicts and even a global pandemic cannot be separated from the systems of exploitation and extraction simultaneously degrading our ecosystems. This is precisely why, when reimagining and implementing systemic changes for thriving communities and environments, we must platform and centre those most marginalised and affected. Simultaneously, when addressing social injustice and conflict, we must not overlook the deeply interconnected role of how we interact with our nature and ecosystems.
Over the past few years, it has been amazing to witness the link between our environmental, racial, social, gender, and intergenerational justice become increasingly recognised and forefronted in mainstream narratives. But where do we go from here? Just as the problems are intersectional, so too are the opportunities and solutions. This is what brings us to a Just Transition.
Just Transition is a principle, a process and a practice. Just Transition is visionary, unifying, and place-based. Just Transition calls for a shift in economic and political power from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy, ensuring healthy, resilient and economically empowered communities alongside thriving ecosystems. The transition itself must be just and equitable; redressing past harms and creating new relationships of power for the future through reparations. The practice of just transition means that the people who are most affected by pollution – the frontline workers and the fenceline communities – should be in the leadership of crafting policy solutions. If the process of transition is not just, the outcome will never be. Just Transition describes both where we are going and how we get there..
In this topic we explore the meaning of climate justice, highlight the interconnected injustices, and platform the actions, organisations, and structures that are integral to a Just Transition.
