Global labour unions and just transition to a green economy

Abstract

Questions of justice in the transition to a green economy have been raised by various social forces. Very few proposals, however, have been as focused and developed as the “just transition” strategy proposed by global labour unions. Yet, labour unions are remarkably absent from discussions of the transition towards a green economy. This is surprising as labour unions are arguably the largest organizations in the world fighting for basic rights and more just social relations. This paper tries to advance the potential contribution of labour unions in this arena by asking: what is the full scope of “just transition” today and how have labour unions developed and refined it over the years to render the move towards a green economy both environmentally and socially sustainable? The concept of just transition is hotly debated within labour unions and has different interpretations, and hence different strategies. The last section assesses these interpretations by means of a normative framework, which seeks to fuse political economy and political ecology. Empirically, we add to the growing literature on labour environmentalism, as well as transitions more generally. Analytically, our goal is to place the various approaches to a “just transition” within a heuristic framework of environmental justice that is explicit about power relations when demanding justice, two themes central to this special issue

Non-Unionized Workers in British Green Sectors: Evidence From the Labor Force Survey*

“…Core elements of labor environmentalism guarantee a just transition to green economy and contribute to creation of green jobs offering environmentally-friendly and decent working conditions (Stevis and Felli, 2015;ITF, 2010;ITUC, 2009a). For unions, decent works and just transition should be first step of transition to green economy.…”

Stranded Assets: A Climate Risk Challenge

“…The impact of such asset stranding needs to be monitored closely, particularly in developing nations where such stranded assets could destabilize efforts to improve economic growth and socioeconomic development (Caldecott 2015). The transition toward a low-carbon pathway globally needs to be managed in a way that does not disproportionately disadvantage developing countries (Swilling and Annecke 2010; International Labor Organization 2010; Stevis and Felli 2014). An important report by the World Bank on decarbonizing development argued for early action on climate change in developing countries, as "early action avoids lock-ins and is cost-effective: delays today need to be offset by faster decarbonization tomorrow, meaning higher costs and stranded assets" (Fay et al 2015).…”

“…This is a salient issue for developing countries whose right to development and access to affordable energy should not be compromised by low-carbon transition goals (Swilling and Annecke 2010). The growing just transition literature points out the inequalities generated by efforts to tackle climate change, noting that the need for political trade-offs to ensure a low-carbon future can be achieved without undermining development and exacerbating inequality (Working Lives Research Institute 2008;Farrell 2012;Stevis and Felli 2014). This implies exploring the best possible outcomes for those whose livelihoods are affected by and dependent on a fossil fuel economy, and who will otherwise lose their jobs and communities (Newell and Mulvaney 2013).…”

“…As the labor movement became more involved in global environmental movement in the early 1990s, the notion of "green jobs" came to be seen as a necessary component of a just transition (Stevis and Felli 2014). Stevis and Felli (2014) explore how the promotion of green jobs and a green economy could facilitate a triple win for the economy, society, and the environment, while sustaining decent jobs and livelihoods.…”

“…Stevis and Felli (2014) explore how the promotion of green jobs and a green economy could facilitate a triple win for the economy, society, and the environment, while sustaining decent jobs and livelihoods. New job opportunities could arise from new climate policies and the stranding of carbon-intensive assets.…”