Contested justice - Climate justice activists’ and coal workers’ interpretations of a just transition in the Rhinish lignite phase out

Abstract: The combustion of lignite coal for energy production significantly contributes to Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions, leading climate justice activists to advocate for an immediate coal exit. Workers of the lignite industry strongly oppose this as they worry about the structural decline of mining regions and their financial security. The concept of Just Transition is increasingly employed to bridge jobs-versus-environment narratives by including justice as a key factor in decisions around the restructuring of environmentally harming industries. Looking at the Rhineland region, which has become a key site of the struggle around the future of the lignite industry, this thesis investigates workers’ and climate justice activists’ perceptions of justice in the transition process. The data gathered through semi-structured interviews with both groups and subjected to qualitative content structuring analysis shows that there is some agreement, e.g. on procedural justice, but also disagreement, e.g. on the depth of change envisioned. It becomes clear that what justice means in a transition context is contested as actors form alliances to either defend or topple the hegemony of the fossil fuel regime. Insights from the interviews form the grounding for an elaboration of hurdles and potential for labour and climate justice movements to unite under a shared vision of a just transition.