Analysis: communities in the midlands historically feel left behind so scepticism and distrust about the Just Transition project are understandable
By Aparajita Banerjee and Geertje Schuitema, UCD
Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment & Communications Eamon Ryan recently launched the Irish programme for the EU Just Transition Fund. The purpose of the fund is to assist the most affected areas in moving to a climate neutral economy. Some €169 million will mainly be invested in the Irish midlands, to reduce the impact of the shift away from peat-based electricity production.
Speaking to the media, Ryan repeatedly stressed that these funds are to ensure that "no one and no place is left behind". This provides a huge opportunity for the midlands, but poses a real risk if the Just Transition is not delivered.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, Pippa Hackett, Green Party Senator and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, on the EU Just Transition Fund
When you talk to people in the midlands, it is clear there are mixed feelings about the Just Transition. On the one hand, the funds provide real opportunities to invest in communities, create jobs, boost the local economy and invest in business opportunities.
But on the other hand, there is a lot of scepticism about the Just Transition and distrust in the political agenda. This clearly emerged in one of our recently published studies, based on interviews with community members in the midlands and document research. "I would have very little faith in the Just Transition, to be honest", one community member said. "That's my honest opinion. The Just Transition is really a political thing. It's politicised and it’s all a game, is my honest opinion. Politicians don’t want negative PR and it’s about soundbites.’
There are clear challenges ahead for the minister and his team to design a Just Transition that overcomes this scepticism, restores trust and delivers on its promises. How might this be done?
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Countrywide in 2021, Just Transition Commissioner Kieran Mulvey on the project to oversee the replacement of jobs in the former peat burning power stations in the midlands with new enterprises
To ensure that a just transition is really "just", the first step is to recognise that the word "justice" has different meanings for different people. For example, for some, "justice" may mean that their employment is guaranteed, whilst for others "justice" may mean that the loss of social cohesion and cultural connection with working in the peat sector is compensated for. Therefore, a detailed assessment of what the term "justice" means for all those involved is crucial to deliver a true just transition.
But more importantly, one needs to understand what "no one and no place is left behind" means. In our study, we see that one needs to identify and address the deeper problems affecting the resiliency of rural and mono-industrial regions that are dependent on fossil fuels.
We argue that communities in the midlands historically feel "left behind", which is embedded in the historical difference between rural and urban Ireland. For example, a lack of alternative jobs and employment in the region is the result of prolonged underinvestment in rural Ireland.
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From RTÉ News, end of an area as last peat briquette factory in Ireland closes
But the differences do not just focus on the labour market. There is a systematic reduced availability and accessibility of services such as education, healthcare and transport. It is essential to recognise that there are existing inequalities in the region, which are in turn exacerbated by the shift away from peat-based electricity production. To rehabilitate the midlands, and ensure the region will thrive again, these existing differences need to be addressed as well.
The existing differences and inequalities explain a deeper feeling of injustice in the communities in the Midlands. We call this "spatial injustice" which means that there are injustices as a result of the geographical location of the Irish midlands. Such spatial injustices are not yet included in the Just Transition policies, and are partly the cause of the frustration, anger and scepticism that communities express against the just transition process.
There is a risk that the existing differences will only grow and the communities and people in the midlands will really be left behind
The path ahead for the minister is clear: he must rise to the challenge and use the Just Transition funds to ensure that the midlands will thrive again. To do this, decades of economic marginalisation and underinvestment in the region as well as the intangible social and cultural losses must be taken into account in the Just transition process.
This requires the people who live and work in the region to be fully engaged in the just transition process to create a perspective for the future of the midlands. If this is not done, there is a risk that the existing differences will only grow, resulting in a bigger divide and, despite best intentions, the communities and people in the midlands will really be left behind.
Dr Aparajita Banerjee is a Senior Researcher at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability. Dr Geertje Schuitema is Associate Professor at the College of Business at UCD. She is a member of the SFI-funded NexSys research group.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
