Originally published via Ardea International, 6th December 2024.
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The “just transition” has recently become a bit of a buzz-phrase. But what does it actually mean? In a nutshell, a just transition means that the move towards environmental sustainability doesn’t leave some of the planet behind; that social and environmental issues are addressed together, rather than siloed. To address this topic properly, we’re running a series on this topic over the coming weeks, so stay tuned; to start, we’re looking at fossil fuels.
The science at this point is very clear. We need to move away from fossil fuels across the board; a future in which we continue to burn oil, coal, and gas is one with serious consequences ranging from ecosystem collapse to a rise in disease and extreme weather events. As Prof. Kim Nicholas puts it:
“It's warming
It's us
We're sure
It's bad
We can fix it.”
Taking action in non-negotiable, and making sure that no-one gets left with the bill is part of that.