Syllabus
Course Schedule
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Dates
Topic / Assignment 1 22. 2.
Introduction to the course & introduction to the Just Transition
· Course aims & assignments, information on division into simulation groups
· Overview of the EU Green Deal & the Just Transition Mechanism
Required readings:
Wong, Xinxin, and Kevin Lo. "Just transition: A conceptual review." Energy Research & Social Science vol. 82 (December 2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102291
European Commission. Delivering the European Green Deal. 2021. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/delivering-european-green-deal_en
European Commission. The Just Transition Mechanism: Making Sure No One is Left Behind. 2021. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/finance-and-green-deal/just-transition-mechanism_en 2-3 29.2. & 14.3.
The Policy Framework for A Just Green Transition
· Analyzing EU policies and mechanisms supporting a just transition (including the Just Transition Fund, territorial just transition plans (TJTPs)
· Analyzing ILO standards supporting a just transition
· Identification of challenges and gaps in the current policy framework
· Choice of countries for simulation; students divide into groups.
· Critical reflection #1 due 12 March, end of the day (prior to seminar).
Required policy readings:
European Commission. Communication from the Commission: The European Green Deal. Brussels, 11.12.2019, COM (2019) 640 final. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1588580774040&uri=CELEX%3A52019DC0640
Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the Just Transition Fund. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1056&from=EN
International Labor Organization. Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all. Geneva: ILO, 2015. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---emp_ent/documents/publication/wcms_432859.pdf
Required scholarly readings (please choose one for the critical reflection):
- Green, Fergus, and Ajay Gambhir. "Transitional assistance policies for just, equitable and smooth low-carbon transitions: who, what and how?" Climate Policy 20, no. 8 (2020): 902-921. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2019.1657379
- Sabato, Sebastiano, and Matteo Mandelli. "Towards an EU framework for a just transition: welfare policies and politics for the socio-ecological transition." European Political Science (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41304-023-00458-1
Recommended:
International Labor Organization. Achieving a Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All. Geneva: ILO, 2023. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_876568.pdf
NO CLASS ON THE 7TH OF MARCH 4-5 21.3. & 4.4.
Achieving Social Justice during the Green Transition
· Understanding the different dimensions of social justice in the context of the green transition
· Evaluating regional inequalities and impacts of transition on communities
· Identifying strategies for including local communities and the relevant target groups in decision-making processes
· Critical reflection #2 due 2 April, end of the day (prior to seminar).
Required readings (please choose one for the critical reflection):
· Abram, Simone, Ed Atkins, Alix Dietzel, Kirsten Jenkins, Lorna Kiamba, Joshua Kirshner, Julia Kreienkamp, Karen Parkhill, Tom Pegram, and Lara M. Santos Ayllón. "Just Transition: A whole-systems approach to decarbonisation." Climate Policy 22, no. 8 (2022): 1033-1049. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2022.2108365
· Atapattu, Sumudu. "Environmental justice, climate justice and constitutionalism: protecting vulnerable states and communities." In Research Handbook on Global Climate Constitutionalism, eds. Jordi Jaria-Manzano and Susana Borrás. Edward Elgar online, 2019. https://doi-org.ezproxy.is.cuni.cz/10.4337/9781788115810.00017
· Heffron, Raphael J., and Darren McCauley. "Beyond energy justice: towards a just transition." In Research Handbook on Global Climate Constitutionalism, eds. Jordi Jaria-Manzano and Susana Borrás. Edward Elgar online, 2019. https://doi-org.ezproxy.is.cuni.cz/10.4337/9781788115810.00022
· Dunphy, Niall P., and Breffni Lennon. "Whose transition? A Review of citizen participation in the energy system." In Routledge Handbook of Energy Transitions, edited by Kathleen M. Araujo. London: Routledge, 2023. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/64054/9781003183020_10.4324_9781003183020-30.pdf?sequence=8&isAllowed=y.
NO CLASS ON THE 28TH OF MARCH 6-7 11.4. & 18.4.
Labor market policies and social protection systems in the just transition
Understanding changes in employment patterns in the context of transition
Comparing skill development and retraining programs
Addressing job displacement issues
Identifying other mechanisms of social protection
Critical reflection #3 due 16 April, end of the day (prior to seminar).
Required policy readings:
· International Labour Organization (ILO). "The Role of Active Labour Market Policies for a Just Transition." Policy Brief, June 29, 2023. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/publications/just-transition-pb/WCMS_886544/lang--en/index.htm
· International Labour Organization (ILO). "Social protection for a just transition." Policy Brief, February 6, 2023. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/publications/just-transition-pb/WCMS_886544/lang--en/index.htm
· International Labour Organization (ILO). "Skills Development for a Just Transition." Policy Brief, November 7, 2023. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/publications/just-transition-pb/WCMS_860617/lang--en/index.htm
Required scholarly readings (please choose one for the critical reflection):
· Bosch, Gerhard. "Employment policy for a just transition - the example of Germany." ETUI 29, no 3 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1177/10242589231188680
· García-García, Pablo, Óscar Carpintero, and Luis Buend
Annotation
The aim of this course is to introduce MA students to the core aspects of the Just Transition, which relate to social protection and employment policies. The Just Transition refers to the shift that countries need to make from high- to low-carbon economies to reach the goal of net-zero carbon emissions, and in this process, considers the need to accommodate workers employed in affected sectors.
Students will be acquainted with the core preconditions that countries need to meet in order to make the transition towards a green economy just for workers. This includes strengthened social dialogue between representatives of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, active labor market policies and lifelong learning schemes that promote the creation of new skills, the creation of decent employment, policies that promote social inclusion and non-discrimination, as well as adequate social protection schemes to ensure income support for workers facing a transition.
The main focus of the course will be on European regions, but we will make use of examples from other countries and regions as well.