Full Title: Just Transition in the United States
Author(s): Matt Piotrowski, Joshua McBee
Publisher(s): Climate Advisers
Publication Date: May 20, 2021
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The energy transition now underway in the United States, and in economies throughout the world, is expected to accelerate in the coming years and decades. The increase in renewables in the electricity sector will bring about declining use of fossil fuels, with coal the most vulnerable. Likewise, as vehicles that run on electricity or other alternative fuels become more common, the petroleum sector will face repeated existential threats. Against this backdrop, governments will have to ensure that this energy transition is equitable for the workers who are most adversely affected. Without a just transition – when affected workers and communities receive the support they need to transition to new jobs and find new sources of revenues – economies could see massive labor disruptions, civil unrest, long-term unemployment for certain segments of the population, deepening political polarization, and a backlash against climate-friendly policies.
This report dives into what a a just transition for fossil fuel-dependent communities in the U.S. might look like with examples of past initiatives, President Biden’s plans, and challenges to overcome.