Just Transition Insights, Issue #2, 10/31/2022
Leading Off: Trade Rules & The Danger To Just Transition Here’s a reasonable argument to consider: the global trading regime, built over the past century through various so-called “free trade” agreements, has played a significant role in exacerbating the climate crisis by encouraging hyper-growth, lowering wage standards and reducing national environmental conditions. Even if the […]
Just Transition Insights, Issue #1, 10/17/2022
Leading Off: Ten Markers For The Road As this is the first issue of the newsletter, here are some markers that will inform our mission in the months and years to come. Economic transitions are nothing new for workers. Century after century a new invention or industry upheaval has meant economic change. The transitions all […]
DATELINE—AUSTRALIA: Queensland Bids! Is This “Charter” A Model?
Just a few weeks ago, a “Queensland Energy Workers’ Charter” was unveiled by a broad set of players in–yes, you guessed it!–the Australian state of Queensland. We will be digging into the details some more in an upcoming newsletter and getting the inside scoop from the players (so, time to subscribe so you don’t miss […]
DATELINE—U.S.: Green Locomotives & Choo-Choo Politics
Where does the money come from for a “high bar” Just Transition? Hard to get away from the reality that a good slice will have to flow from governments. So, political environments have to be ripe, and it’s a reason to include electoral activity in Just Transition strategies, especially when the playing field looks grim […]
DATELINE—UK: Redcar Red Alert, A “Lite” Just Transition
In the United Kingdom, the Redcar steelworks closed in 2015. It wasn’t a surprise. The factory’s owner, Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI), had long experienced serious financial challenges, as well as facing an ocean of cheaper Chinese imported steel, the largest global exporter of steel. Yet, there was no plan in place in advance of the […]
DATELINE—EGYPT: The Road to Sharm El Sheikh, Will COP Be A Bust?
Just over the horizon looms the next big annual gathering of United Nations Climate Change Conference, better known as COP (for the “Conference of the Parties“); it will take place from November 6-18 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt). Just Transition is one of the buzz words at the gathering–the broad phrase touches on every […]
DATELINE—SOUTH AFRICA: Energy Transformation, Not Reform
The fundamental challenge in reaching a “high bar” Just Transition is to grapple with the idea beyond just jobs–and jobs are key!!!–and not simply stop at addressing the system through retraining, early retirement, better compensation, and a whole menu of labor adjustment programs. It is to rethink the entire model of energy production and use. […]