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What is "Just Transition"?
Report/Guidelines, Strategies and Recommendations; Policy Tools or Evaluations
Mar 2020

Assessing the Gender and Social Equity Dimensions of Energy Transitions

Through a systemic analysis of academic literature, this report explores the state of knowledge on how the diffusion of low-carbon technologies impacts gender and social equity.

Geographic Scope
Global
Sectors
Energy
Detail
Focus Areas
Inequality and/or poverty > Gender inequality, Other
Justice
Social and/or cultural impacts > Other
Keywords
social equity
land rights
renewable energy
unequal access
distributional justice
indigenous communities
By
Oliver Johnson, Jenny Yi-Chen Han, Anne-Louise Knight, Sofie Mortensen, May Thazin Aung, Michael Boyland, Bernadette Resurrección
Publishing Organization
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Academic/research institution or journal
Summary

There is a lack of dedicated research and knowledge on the gender and social equity implications of low-carbon energy transitions. This paper examines these justice implications through a systemic analysis of peer-reviewed literature.

The authors explore the general trends and interconnectedness of the positive and negative impacts of introducing low-carbon technologies, most of which are broadly related to economics. Poverty alleviation and energy self-sufficiency were the dominant positive impacts, while issues of land loss and displacement were the dominant negative ones. The authors explore the broader implications on female gender roles, poverty and employment, land loss, and (un)equal access through specific examples in the academic literature.

Based on their findings, they conclude that low-carbon energy systems are not inherently more inclusive or empowering than traditional energy systems. The outcome of a transition is not determined by the technology itself, but rather the ways in which the technology interplays with the existing sociocultural, socioeconomic, and institutional context. They emphasize the need for inclusive institutional arrangements that ensure a just process and provide general recommendations based on these needs.

 

Brief/Case Study; Guidelines, Strategies and Recommendations
Jul 2020

Low-carbon Transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: Gender and Equity Dimensions

This brief provides community perspectives on renewable energy projects, focusing on gender and social equity concerns in low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Geographic Scope
Indonesia
Sectors
Energy
Detail
Focus Areas
Inequality and/or poverty > Gender inequality, Other
Social and/or cultural impacts > Other
Keywords
subsidies
land management
renewable energy
Minangkabau people
socially differentiated needs
By
Jessica Koski, Yoariza, Bernadette Resurrección, Sivan Kartha, Mahdi, Yuerlita, May Thazin Aung
Publishing Organization
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Academic/research institution or journal
Summary

This brief provides snapshots of community perspectives on renewable energy projects in West Sumatra, Indonesia, and suggests that customized approaches are needed to address local gender and social equity concerns effectively in low-carbon transitions.

West Sumatra was selected for this study due to its high potential for renewable energy generation and diversity of possible renewable energy sources. The authors reviewed four development sites in West Sumatra as transition examples: two geothermal projects, one micro hydro project, and an oil palm company that produces biofuel and also uses waste as biomass for energy production. They conducted interviews and focus group discussions that illuminate local gender and social equity implications, which often related to customary land management practices and gender roles. They also explore lessons learned from Indonesia’s subsidy program for liquified petroleum gas.

The authors argue that policymakers should adopt a gender-sensitive approach to renewable energy decision-making to identify potential policy repercussions that could worsen existing inequalities. This approach will produce results that benefit more people and satisfy the needs of more interest groups.

Report/Guidelines, Strategies and Recommendations; Policy Tools or Evaluations
Apr 2020

Distributional Impacts of Mining Transitions: Learning from the Past

This paper examines the distributional impacts of mining transitions and of common policy responses through a systemic review of literature on past mine closures and declines.

Geographic Scope
Global
Sectors
Mining
Detail
Focus Areas
Economic diversification/restructuring > Economic development plans
Employment > Skills, Social protections
Government intervention > Regulation
Inequality and/or poverty > Gender inequality, Other
Justice
Social and/or cultural impacts > Non-financial loss, Pride or cultural identity
Keywords
youth
distributional impacts
social equity
migration
gender roles
By
May Thazin Aung
Publishing Organization
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Academic/research institution or journal
Summary

Discussions on mine decline and closure primarily focus on the economic impacts. There is limited empirical evidence of the actual distributional impacts, particularly of policy responses designed to address them. The authors conduct a systemic analysis of literature on past mine closures and declines to evaluate the potential distributional impacts of the transitions and of their common policy responses.

The authors largely focus on the distributional impacts (social, economic, and political) in relation to gender and age. They find the economic decline disrupted traditional gender norms for women and especially affected young people seeking to enter the job market, often resulting in disenchantment and migration. They also examine how distributional impacts can emerge from programs designed to restore jobs, rehabilitate the socioeconomic conditions of mining communities, and prevent out-migration. Based on these findings, they provide general recommendations and considerations for future policies.

Report/Guidelines, Strategies and Recommendations; Policy Tools or Evaluations
Jun 2020

Seven Principles to Realize a Just Transition to a Low-carbon Economy

This report proposes seven basic policy principles to support just transitions in response to climate change and offers concrete ways to apply these principles in practice.

Geographic Scope
Global
Sectors
General
Detail
Focus Areas
Economic diversification/restructuring > Economic development plans, Industry and/or sector assistance or plans, Infrastructure investment
Employment > Job creation and/or equality, Skills, Social protections
Environment and/or pollution > Nature
Inequality and/or poverty > Gender inequality, Other
Investment > Stranded assets
Social and/or cultural impacts > Non-financial loss, Pride or cultural identity
Keywords
carbon lock-in
small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs)
entrepreneurial discovery process
polluter pays principle
environmental legacies
environmental reclamation
historical responsibility for global emissions
By
Aaron Atteridge, Claudia Strambo
Publishing Organization
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Academic/research institution or journal
Summary

“Based on a critical review of former transitions, the authors distill seven basic principles for ensuring just transitions: actively encourage decarbonization; avoid creating carbon lock-in and more “losers” in these sectors; support affected regions; support workers, their families, and the wider community affected by closures or downscaling; clean up environmental damage and ensure that related costs are not transferred from the private to the public sector; address existing economic and social inequalities; and ensure an inclusive and transparent planning process.

These principles highlight the importance of supporting affected workers but place equal emphasis on ensuring environmental protection and restoration, diversifying industry and other economic activities, and tackling socioeconomic inequity (including gender inequality) in an active pursuit of decarbonization. The authors offer recommendations on how to implement each of these principles, arguing that the justness of a transition comes from pursuing each of these principles simultaneously and that failure to do so will result in a lack of necessary social and economic support. “