Analysis: Theoretical Foundations and Socio-Economic Dimensions
Transitioning from carbon-intensive energy structures to sustainable alternatives creates profound friction between environmental targets and regional livelihood security [1]. The conceptual architecture of a just transition requires addressing both procedural and distributional justice, ensuring that vulnerable populations do not carry the costs of climate remediation [1]. In heavily industrialized energy regions, fossil fuel extraction underpins municipal revenues, employment ecosystems, and local commerce [1], [3]. Shifting away from coal without established alternative economic strategies risks deep structural depression across these dependent communities [1]. Consequently, organised labour occupies a central position in negotiating transition pathways, demanding that worker rights, reskilling programs, and social safety nets remain foundational within energy master plans [2]. Broader transition frameworks must also expand beyond immediate employment metrics to consider wider socio-spatial challenges, such as land rehabilitation, access to public resources, and gender disparities in emerging green sectors [1]. Without deliberate policy interventions that prioritize systemic equity, market-driven decarbonisation threatens to reproduce existing socio-economic inequalities under the guise of ecological modernization [1], [3].