Just Transitions and Human Rights: Rethinking Local Government Responsibilities

This article contributes to literatures on local governments and just transitions by presenting a human rights–grounded framework for just transition and applying it to local governments. The framework holds that individuals have justified claims to protection of their most essential interests when those interests are threatened by climate policies, and it identifies four core responsibilities for local governments in ensuring a just transition: (1) identify transitional injustices, (2) critically scrutinize their moral grounds, (3) take suitable remedial actions when human rights are at risk, and (4) press for external political reforms when necessary powers lie beyond their authority.