The challenges of just transitions
On Wednesday, August 20, OXFAM, the IDAES School of the University of San Martín and the CLACSO Working Groups “Energy and sustainable development” and “Just transitions and care of the common home” organized the discussion “The challenges of just transitions: Paths beyond the economic and environmental crisis in Latin America”, at the IDAES School of the National University of San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
The dialogue aimed to strengthen the debate and the building of strategic alliances to develop a coherent and integrated narrative on just transitions in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting efforts in climate and economic justice as part of a single structural challenge in the face of a multidimensional crisis. This crisis not only reinforces a model of wealth concentration and exploitation of common resources, but is also shaped by global geopolitical dynamics that severely limit our countries' room for maneuver.
Indeed, debates surrounding the energy transition, productive reconversion, and recovery policies cannot be considered outside the current international context. The hegemonic dispute between the United States and China, expressed in a trade war with significant implications for environmental and technological regulation, the Asian giant's "green" reindustrialization process, and the role of the European Union with instruments such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), create a challenging environment for autonomous development strategies in the region. Added to this is the emergence of new right-wing climate change denialist movements that, both in the Global North and South, are eroding the minimal consensus needed to advance sustainable and inclusive transition policies.
In light of this scenario, this effort aims to contribute to building just and equitable societies, centered on the most vulnerable populations who suffer most acutely from the consequences of the climate crisis, structural violence, and deepening inequalities. Recognizing spaces for participation and the leading role of communities is key to guaranteeing the effective exercise of rights and advancing toward structural transformations. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen alliances with strategic actors to influence proposals that promote an economic and energy model from a perspective of social and environmental justice.
Opening of the discussion
Carlos Aguilar (OXFAM) and Pablo Vommaro (CLACSO)
Panel 1: Conditions for a just transition in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of polycrisis
Daniela Vilar. Minister of the Environment of the Province of Buenos Aires
Elisabeth Möhle. FOUNDATION
Diego Álvarez Newman. CLACSO Working Group on Just Transitions and Care for Our Common Home
Coordinated by: Carlos Aguilar. OXFAM
Panel 2: The energy transition in Latin America and Argentina: current situation, tensions, challenges and opportunities
Esteban Serrani. Co-coordinator of the CLACSO Working Group on Energy and Sustainable Development. IDAES/UNSAM School
Agustín Carbo. Power for All
Paz Mattenet. Youth for Climate
Ignacio Levy. The Powerful Throat
Coordinated by: Johana Kunin. IDAES UNSAM / CONICET
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