P000181, Just energy transitions: Critical social science perspectives on energy, 5.0 Hp
Print syllabus

Syllabus

Finalized by: Forskarskolan People, Society and Sustainability, 2026-04-28
Valid from : Second half-year 2026 (2026-07-01)

Level

Third cycle

Subject

Rural Development, Other social science

Grading Scale

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The aim of the PhD course is to explore critical social science perspectives on justice in relation to energy and energy transitions, and to enable the participants to reflect on the political, social and economical aspects of energy use and potential energy transitions in different contexts and in relation to different forms of energy (fossil, renewable and biofuel), resource uses and approaches to governance.

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• discuss how sustainability and especially carbon emission reductions are operationalized in specific sectors or related to contemporary energy projects;
• describe different social science approaches (theoretical and empirical) to analysing justice in the context of energy transitions;
• identify justice and equity aspects of resource extraction and transition projects;
• analyse how the political economy of just transition programs and projects shape possibilities for fair and green transitions;
• reason around the justice implications of different forms of just transitions;
• reflect on the importance and role of carbon emission reductions compared to other environmental criteria in sustainability transitions.

Content

The term just transitions is gaining traction as a shorthand for the many ways that social or at least societal concerns are considered in programs and projects aimed at reduced carbon emissions. This course analyses such transformations across activities like mining, forestry and agriculture from a social science vantage point. In short, this course asks for whom just transitions represents justice - who is supposed to transition, how and at what cost, to ensure green goals and targets are met, and with what justice implications?

It is clear that reducing carbon emissions is an absolutely vital goal, but as industrial scale projects are taking place across Global North and South contexts ostensibly to combat climate change, important questions arise around what sort of social and biophysical changes these rapid and large-scale resource projects imply, and with what justice implications. Specific questions addressed in the course:

• How can we relate current debates within social science literature on just transitions to the origins of just transitions research?
• How do just transitions relate to other conceptions of change (for example social change, transformative change, development), and to different notions of sustainability (where carbon emission reduction is becoming the key sustainability criteria)?
• What examples exist of just transitions? What makes them just, and for whom? What are the issues left aside in such transitions?
• How are different frames used strategically to promote or oppose certain transitions?
• What historical injustices and disjunctures affect present day sustainability transitions?
• What factors, historical and otherwise, have shaped the present political economic conjuncture for resource extraction and transition?
• How are different transitions related and what are the implications for different kinds of justice?

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

- Active participation and presentation in the seminars - Completed written final assignment

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Urban and Rural Development

Supplementary information

Other Information

This course is part of the research school People, Society and Sustainability, a joined research school between the Department of Economics and the Department of Urban and Rural Development.