Introduction: Why a Just Transition?

What is meant by the Just Transition? This chapter introduces the Just Transition paradigm and the aim of the book—to show how a systems-thinking approach can assist in one of the biggest challenges of our time: managing climate transitions to Net Zero by 2050. Often missing from climate transition plans are those it will affect the most: the rights of workers, communities, indigenous peoples, consumers, and other groups. Ignoring the human impact of climate transitions will doom such plans to failure and undermine global efforts to fight climate change. This introduction outlines the three essential archetypes of transition manager whether they be in business or government: those who plan and set strategy, those charged with the delivery of the transition, and those who will exercise oversight and hold the strategic and delivery functions to account.