Paradigm shifting and the centrality of justice in pathways to low carbon economies

Paradigm shifting and the centrality of justice in pathways to low carbon economies

by Professor Lorraine Elliott, Professor Emerita (and previously Professor of International Relations) in the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University

The debate about how to manage climate change has increasingly been linked to expectations about net-zero emissions, low carbon economies, decarbonisation strategies, and efforts to define a green economy model. Green economy principles call for pathways to low carbon growth that are environmentally sustainable, resource efficient and socially equitable in their practices and that deliver sustainability, efficiency and equity in its outcomes. This presentation explores how and why social justice must be at the heart of such transitions if they are to be transformative rather than simply adaptive, and if they are to give priority to the human security/insecurity dimensions of climate impacts and responses. It identifies three dimensions of (environmental/climate) justice – procedural justice, distributive justice and recognition justice – and offers some thoughts about what it might look like to make such principles meaningful in transition policies and practice across sectors such as energy (and perhaps agriculture), and cross-cutting issues such as jobs, employment, and investment. (NB: The geographic focus will be Southeast Asia and I look forward to the insights of colleagues with experience in other regions of the world).

All welcome!