Fair Transition: Bridging High-Level Goals with Workplace Realities

The call for fair implementation often arises during discussions about the green transition. Originally a concept from the labor movement, the idea of a just transition has now expanded to encompass broader social justice demands in the transition process.

This article revisits the concept's roots in the world of work and workers, exploring what a fair transition should entail from a workplace perspective. It begins by examining how climate change impacts work, providing a broad viewpoint.

Work-Life Affected by Climate and Mitigation Efforts

As the climate changes, so does the nature of work. Climate change affects living environments and conditions, which in turn impacts work life. Outdoor jobs, commutes, and travel are subject to changing conditions due to shifts in temperature and weather. Indoor work may also experience issues such as increased heat or indoor air quality problems.

In some sectors, the impacts are very tangible. For example, in the Nordic countries, increased forest fires have strained rescue services. In transportation, changes in weather and temperature directly affect road safety, which impacts healthcare services.

Many sectors are also connected to climate action—efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are increasingly adopted. These include the green transition, focusing on moving away from fossil fuels towards sustainable energy sources.

Transition Must Be Broadly and Practically Conceived

Adaptation, preparedness, and mitigation efforts extend beyond sectors traditionally associated with the green transition. For instance, in educational and guidance sectors such as early childhood education, schools, and youth work, it is crucial to cultivate climate-aware generations through education and practices. Adapting to a changing operational environment might involve introducing more plant-based, lower-carbon footprint food options in schools and kindergartens, minimizing waste, enhancing sorting and recycling, and ensuring suitable outdoor play clothes for changing weather conditions. Addressing the rising climate anxiety among children and young people, and fostering hope for the future, are also critical.

These examples highlight that climate change affects many industries and job roles, especially in terms of working conditions, tools, and the need for new skills. It involves changes in work methods, workplace change processes, and their implementation, which must be understood from a worker-oriented and practical perspective to truly assess what fairness in transition requires in various contexts.

Unions and Workers as Climate Actors

Workers' participation and influence are essential for a just transition. Engaging directly with workers and the unions that represent them is crucial, as they possess knowledge and skills that should not be overlooked.

Employers must recognize that workers likely have valuable insights that can facilitate smooth change processes. One method for fostering this dialogue is the co-operation procedure, which anticipates changes affecting work, governed by law and collective bargaining agreements.

Unions also have the potential to actively promote climate actions by bringing a worker perspective and concrete details into the transition process.

Towards a Proactive Union in Climate Matters

Globally, and in Finland, unions have begun taking steps to promote a just transition. A key question is how much climate content can be integrated into the core activities of unions. For example, the Public and Welfare Sectors' Union JHL has explicitly incorporated climate and environmental goals into its negotiation agenda up to early 2025. These goals include mandatory handling of climate issues in co-operation procedures and the election of climate and environmental representatives at workplaces.

Such provisions enhance the dialogue between employers and workers, advancing workplace climate initiatives and fostering the collaboration required for a just transition.

Facilitating Concrete, Dialogic Action

Climate change and the green transition require actions at all levels. Implementing the transition fairly also necessitates a focus on the practical aspects of work life, understanding it in light of broader goals. To achieve these goals, workers' voices and participation are essential—genuine and ongoing climate dialogue at every workplace is crucial.

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Introduction of the Author
Anna Korpikoski

Anna Korpikoski works as a special expert at the Finnish Confederation of Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL). Her responsibilities include coordinating thematic future trend studies and monitoring climate mathematics from a trade union perspective.

You can read more about JHL’s future trends and the related climate study at JHL Future Trends.

Read more about JHL: www.jhl.fi