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The term “Just Transition” has become a buzzword, popping up in politicians’ speeches, protesters’ slogans and international climate agreements.


But what does it mean for people in Aotearoa?

Originally coined by the American trade union movement in the 1990s, the term covers a range of ideas and policies based on the premise that workers need help to move from high-polluting jobs into clean ones.

What started as a lobbying cry to compensate coal workers who lost their jobs to the greening of energy, has widened to cover re-training, regional development, and fostering new kinds of work. 

It’s no longer just about softening the blow for people who did well in the fossil-fuelled economy, such as Taranaki’s oil engineers. Some also see it as a chance to create a more equal economy, bringing in those who missed out on access to good jobs previously. 

At November’s world climate summit in Glasgow, New Zealand promised to do its part, by giving people decent jobs and a way out of poverty at the same time as cutting carbon emissions. 

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment even has its own Just Transitions Unit, which, it says, will help move the country to a low-carbon future.

Early Government efforts have focussed on bolstering regions such as Taranaki and Southland, which will be affected by the slow-down of oil and gas drilling and the closure of Southland’s Tiwai Point smelter.

But there’s much more to the challenge than only supporting those regions and workers that have been thriving.

In this series of interactive features, Stuff will explore our changing job market, and what the transition away from climate polluting work could mean for school-leavers, iwi and rural workers.

Our first feature, by Olivia Wannan, explores how the job market is changing - and meets some bright sparks who are already working and thriving in climate-friendly industries.

Our second and third features, coming early next year, will explore what a Just Transition looks like for iwi and Māori businesses, and how we could harness nature to support a thriving jobs market.

Originally coined by the American trade union movement in the 1990s, the term covers a range of ideas and policies based on the premise that workers need help to move from high-polluting jobs into clean ones.

What started as a lobbying cry to compensate coal workers who lost their jobs to the greening of energy, has widened to cover re-training, regional development, and fostering new kinds of work. 

It’s no longer just about softening the blow for people who did well in the fossil-fuelled economy, such as Taranaki’s oil engineers. Some also see it as a chance to create a more equal economy, bringing in those who missed out on access to good jobs previously. 

At November’s world climate summit in Glasgow, New Zealand promised to do its part, by giving people decent jobs and a way out of poverty at the same time as cutting carbon emissions. 

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment even has its own Just Transitions Unit, which, it says, will help move the country to a low-carbon future.

Early Government efforts have focussed on bolstering regions such as Taranaki and Southland, which will be affected by the slow-down of oil and gas drilling and the closure of Southland’s Tiwai Point smelter.

But there’s much more to the challenge than only supporting those regions and workers that have been thriving.

In this series of interactive features, Stuff will explore our changing job market, and what the transition away from climate polluting work could mean for school-leavers, iwi and rural workers.

Our first feature, by Olivia Wannan, explores how the job market is changing - and meets some bright sparks who are already working and thriving in climate-friendly industries.

Our second and third features, coming early next year, will explore what a Just Transition looks like for iwi and Māori businesses, and how we could harness nature to support a thriving jobs market.

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