Just Transitions and the Future of Law and Regulation

This book explores the tensions between aspirations and entrenched practices in implementing carbon neutrality and proposes just transitions as a legal and regulatory bridge to address societal resistance. It uses past and existing practice studies to analyze how just transitions can assist in the shift to carbon neutrality and address future global challenges.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 19 June 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book offers a thorough evaluation of the global and national initiatives to attain carbon neutrality, recognizing their importance in fulfilling the goals of the Paris Agreement and the needs of the planet. The authors delve into the growing conflicts between aspirations and established practices as strategies for achieving carbon neutrality are devised, particularly at the national and sub-national levels. A prime example of this tension is the shift from "dirty" energy production, such as coal, to greener alternatives, which are often supported by laws and regulations but face societal opposition. To address this gap, the concept of just transitions has gained increasing prominence in international and national discourse, yet it remains poorly understood. This book explores the ways in which just transitions have been proposed as a legal and regulatory framework to address the challenges that arise from societal resistance to implementation. It draws upon past and existing practice studies of just transitions to provide an in-depth analysis of how these transitions can assist in achieving carbon neutrality, as well as in responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, environment, and society. Furthermore, the book aims to address future global challenges by leveraging the potential of just transitions.

Introduction:
The pursuit of carbon neutrality has gained significant momentum in recent years, as governments and organizations worldwide recognize the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, sets a global target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by the middle of the century. To achieve this, national and international efforts have been launched to transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote the use of renewable energy technologies.

The Need for Just Transitions:
However, the path to carbon neutrality is not without its challenges. One of the key challenges is the need to balance the transition to a low-carbon economy with the need to ensure social and economic stability. This requires a careful consideration of the impacts of the transition on workers, communities, and industries, as well as the development of policies and programs to support those affected.

Increasing Tensions:
As efforts to implement carbon neutrality progress, there are growing tensions between aspirations and entrenched practices. This is particularly evident at the national and sub-national levels, where different stakeholders have different priorities and interests. For example, there may be opposition to the closure of coal-fired power plants or the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, which can be driven by concerns about job losses, economic impact, and cultural heritage.

Just Transitions:
To address these challenges, the concept of just transitions has emerged as a key framework for achieving carbon neutrality. Just transitions aim to ensure that the benefits and costs of the transition are shared fairly and that vulnerable groups are protected. They involve a combination of policy measures, technological innovations, and social interventions to support the transition and minimize the negative impacts on society.

Legal and Regulatory Frameworks:
Just transitions have been proposed as a legal and regulatory bridge to address issues that result in societal impacts to the implementation of carbon neutrality. Legal frameworks. Legal frameworks. Just transitions have been proposed as a legal and regulatory bridge to address issues that result in societal impacts to the implementation of carbon neutrality. Legal. Just transitions have been proposed as a legal and regulatory bridge to address issues that result in societal impacts to the implementation of carbon neutrality. Regulatory. Just transitions have been proposed as a legal and regulatory bridge to address issues that result in societal impacts to the implementation of carbon neutrality.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive assessment of the global and national efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, recognizing their importance in fulfilling the goals of the Paris Agreement and the needs of the planet. The authors explore the increasing tensions between aspirations and entrenched practices as methods to implement carbon neutrality are devised, particularly at the national and sub-national levels. By examining the ways in which just transitions have been proposed as a legal and regulatory framework to address societal resistance to implementation, the book offers valuable insights into the potential of just transitions to achieve carbon neutrality and address future global challenges. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, the need for sustainable and equitable transitions has become increasingly urgent. This book provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate and provides a roadmap for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to navigate the complex challenges of achieving carbon neutrality.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031061813
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022