Just Transition: Interdisciplinary Insights for Sustainable Pathways

Since 2021, the Just Transition Mechanism has aimed to mobilize approximately €55 billion by 2027 to support the most affected regions in transitioning to a climate-neutral economy. With 70 Territorial Just Transition Plans covering 96 territories now approved, actions have been initiated at different levels to ensure that the transition is fair and inclusive. These actions are interdisciplinary, involving initiatives from the public sector, private sector, and civil society. These upheavals are varied: technological, socio-cultural, and ecological. They affect territories as socio-geographical spaces, particularly in terms of ecological changes, new social relationships between administrations, citizens, and private organizations, as well as new relationships with work and communal living. The transitions produce varied effects across different layers of society, necessitating the adaptation of daily social practices, the costs and efforts of which must be shared equitably. However, questions arise regarding the distribution of these burdens. As such, social justice becomes a key element in the social acceptability of these transformations, yet it cannot be decreed and must be co-constructed by the various stakeholders. Socio-cultural changes provide opportunities to rethink our relationships with others but require deep work that is political, cultural, and socio-educational. Topics In light of the above issues the conference invites research presentations exploring the intersection of public and private sector actions on topics such as: ● Policy design and innovation ● Policy implementation and evaluation ● Change management in the public sector ● Sustainable territorial and urban management ● Innovative business models for transition (e.g., circular economy, ESG) ● Reskilling and upskilling workers ● Participative democracy ● Public-private partnerships ● NGO and social movement management ● Public communication ● Communication approach to sustainable development and just society