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Defining just transition

Author

Listed:
  • Galanis, Giorgos
  • Napoletano, Mauro
  • Popoyan, Lilit
  • Sapio, Alessandro
  • Vardakoulias, Olivier

Abstract

Climate change has sparked a vivid discussion on its socio-economic risks, capturing the attention of academic circles and policymakers. While it is widely argued that a low-carbon transition should be socially just, the precise criteria that policies must adhere to, in order to be universally accepted as ‘just’, remain insufficiently defined. To fill this gap, we draw on relevant theories of distributive justice where equal responsibility should lead to equal outcomes. According to our definition, just transition policies should minimise relative costs for the most vulnerable groups. Furthermore, uneven responsibility for causing damages should be also taken into account by discounting the importance of relative costs of groups with high responsibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Galanis, Giorgos & Napoletano, Mauro & Popoyan, Lilit & Sapio, Alessandro & Vardakoulias, Olivier, 2025. "Defining just transition," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:227:y:2025:i:c:s0921800924002672
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108370
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    Keywords

    Climate change; Distributive justice; Green policies; Just transition; Inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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