The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) today launches a global search for first-hand stories of people working together to advance “just transitions”. 

JUST Stories is dedicated to sharing practical and useful lessons from meaningful and innovative partnerships between those leading public or private sector net zero transitions and those most impacted – local workers, Indigenous peoples and local communities on the frontlines of change.

The two-year project will be guided by an expert Advisory Council - co-chaired by Mary Robinson, first woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Sharan Burrow, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, as well as worker, indigenous, finance and decarbonisation experts from around the world.
 

Haley St Dennis, IHRB's Head of Just Transitions, said: 

“To stay within the 1.5°C target we have to halve emissions by 2030 - that is just six years away. This is daunting, but around the world people are already navigating the urgent task of decarbonisation in a way that doesn’t harm - and actually creates opportunities for - people living on the frontlines of change. We need to find and amplify those stories to inspire broader uptake.

“Their stories are key to understanding how to deliver fast, effective and well-planned climate action, where the challenges of decarbonisation are shared fairly and the benefits distributed equitably. Because ultimately, it will be  workers, Indigenous people, and local communities who determine how ‘just’ these transitions have been.”


In 2015, the landmark Paris Agreement put the imperatives of a just transition on the global climate agenda by acknowledging the importance of decent and quality jobs for the workforce, and opening the way for decarbonisation to deliver major social benefits.

JUST Stories seeks to shine a spotlight on how meaningful net zero transition partnerships are being formed, what makes them work, how agency has been embedded in the process and how accountability is maintained. Through long-form storytelling and first-hand accounts, JUST Stories will share practical and innovative examples of how to advance ‘just’ transition approaches at the early stages of decarbonisation projects that will unfold over the next two to three decades. 

 

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and co-chair of the JUST Stories Advisory Council, said:

“Decarbonisation offers the opportunity to deliver net zero, to halt the risks of global warming and climate shocks, and create equitable societies that protect, respect and realise the human rights of all people. But we know from history that workers, Indigenous groups and local communities are too often overlooked and underserved in the wake of seismic economic and technological shifts.

"I look forward to working with IHRB and the Advisory Council to share lessons from those already developing transition partnerships with local workers, indigenous groups and communities at their centre.”
 

Sharan Burrow, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and co-chair of the JUST Stories Advisory Council, said:

“Those living on the frontlines of change already know there is likely no such thing as a 'perfect' just transition - but the bottom line is that they cannot be left out of the planning and decisions over the trade-offs involved. This is why we see more and more groups advocating, protesting and disrupting against exclusionary and poorly planned transition projects. It’s why I am pleased to be co-chairing the JUST Stories Advisory Council, to tell the stories of those co-creating net zero transitions in true partnership with those most affected.”

The JUST Stories portal launches today and will be accepting stories throughout 2024 in any language. To access the portal and for details of how those leading public or private sector net zero transitions and those most impacted – local workers, Indigenous peoples and local communities on the frontlines of change -  can share stories of meaningful net zero transition partnerships, please visit www.just-stories.org. 


More information about JUST Stories