Justice first: community-embedded and energy transition planning for climate resilience

Access to energy is vital for the wellbeing of individuals, communities, and businesses. However, transitioning from fossil fuels is crucial to avoid severe climate change, and the energy infrastructure is already vulnerable to climate impacts. JusticeFirst! enhances energy transition planning by integrating climate mitigation and adaptation, emphasizing justice, and embedding solutions within local geographies. Special attention is given to vulnerable and marginalized groups, whose empowerment reduces inequity and promotes sustainable development.

JusticeFirst!’s main objectives are to co-produce knowledge for climate adaptation, focusing on justice and wellbeing, and to develop scalable solutions through comparative analysis. Case studies include Indigenous and marginalized communities in Canada, the U.S., Norway, Germany, Mexico, and Ghana, all facing risks to infrastructure, living standards, and mobility. Our international team brings together experts across disciplines, committed to equity, diversity, and community engagement, ensuring the successful implementation of sustainable energy transitions. The Norwegian part of the project focusses on South Sàmi reindeer herding and their situation especially confronted with wind energy projects, loss of land and seasonal migratory routes.