Expert Exchange: Worker-centred just transition research

Unions play many roles in the quest for a just energy transition—from the front lines of organising and collective bargaining to high-level social dialogue with governments. A critical, yet often less well-known, pillar of this work is worker-centred knowledge production.

By grounding technical and economic analysis in the lived experiences of those performing the labour, unions ensure that transition policies centre the common interests of working people and their communities. Some unions and labour movements have their own research institutions that engage seamlessly between the organised labour and research worlds.

The latest expert exchange organised by the Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition (IKI JET) project will therefore focus on the latest insights and knowledge gaps to help policymakers create robust worker-centred just transition plans. 

Researchers from union research institutes in South Africa, Colombia, and Brazil, will describe the latest research on just energy transition–where there are gaps, where there are promising developments, and discuss the role of union research arms for a just transition and successful energy transitions.

Speakers: 

Nelson Karam, DIEESE, Brazil

Sinenhlanhla Sithole, SATRI, South Africa

Igor Díaz, CIPAME, Colombia

Moderated by Abby Güner, Solidarity Center / IKI JET Project