This Sustainability Transition Dialogue is part of the Track Socio-ecological transformation III of the Research Workshop Infrastructure Policy in the 21st Century at TU Berlin.

It will have a special focus on African countries and their challenges for a Just Energy Transition.

Moderator:

Paola Yanguas Parra, (FossilExit Group, Trajects)

Speakers:

Harro von Blottnitz (University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa)

Nathan Tetteh (TU Berlin, MES)

Khadidja Sakhaouri (TU Berlin and Microenergy International)

Imane Boukathem (EUF)

In this lecture, we will nest the diversity of epistemologies and ontologies that exist within our consortium on the topic of Just Transitions. Bringing together voices from Colombia, South Africa and Germany, we will get different perspectives on how just transitions are understood. Michelle Pressend, academic coordinator at UCT, will present a critical reflection on what it is that “Just Transitions” may aim to overcome.

Roberto Almanza, professor of Anthropology at the University of Magdalena, will then show what decolonial perspectives and the Epistemologies of the Caribbean can teach us to have (more) “Just Transitions”. Nataly Díaz, academic coordinator at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IDEA) belonging to the National University of Colombia in Bogotá, will close with an intervention on why biocultural perspectives must lay front and centre in the process and goal of “Just Transitions”, in order to attain planetary justice.

After these inputs, Andrea Cardoso, Professor of Ecological Economics at the University of Magdalena, and Felipe Corral, academic coordinator of TRAJECTS at TU Berlin, will moderate a panel discussion that will engage with participants on-site and joining us virtually. After the lecture, we will host a reception with selected drinks and and appetizers open to the academic community at TU Berlin and especially aimed to bring TRAJECTS’ network in Germany closer together.

A Global South Exchange Just Transition: The Need to change the terms of the conversation

Organised by:

TRAJECTS HUB LATINOAMERICA - Transnational Centre for Just Transitions in Energy, Climate and Sustainability.

Transnational Centre for Just Transitions in Energy, Climate and Sustainability.

Institute for Environmental Studies - IDEA/ National University of Colombia.

GUESTS:

Andrés Osorio, Teacher at CEMarin

Zenicleia Deggerone, Lecturer at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Felipe Corral, Researcher at the Technical University of Berlin -TUB.

Carmenza Castiblanco and Rosario Rojas, Lecturers at the Institute of Environmental Studies -IDEA of the National University of Colombia.

In addition, presentation of opportunities for cooperation, scholarships and internships through TRAJECTS.

The phase-out of coal-fired power generation urgently needs to be accelerated to ensure that there is still a chance of meeting the 1.5 degree target agreed under the Paris agreement. Under the term of a just transition the understanding that the phase-out of coal should take place in a way that is as fair as possible for all social groups is becoming increasingly important.

In order to achieve a just transition for all people, it is important to consider not only male coal workers but also how women and other genders might be affected – positively as well as negatively.

A joint lecture about sustainability studies from two approaches: Environmental Economy and Ecological Economy. In this lecture, these different approaches will be analysed and compared using empirical examples from Europe and Latin America.

Energy transition in Latin America and Europe: comparative perspectives

Mining, energy transition and environmental conflicts