Workers as Agents of a Green and Just Transition. A real-life experiment in Sweden and Spain

Creating environmentally sound and socially just transitions is threatened by the dilemma between protecting workers and protecting nature. Trade unions are included in transition negotiations, shopfloor workers are not.

Based on previous research (FORTE and VR) we argue that one way of overcoming the dilemma is to include workers as change agents into transition processes.

Using insights from our research into the labour-nature relationship, on globalisation, ecofeminism and industry 4.0, we will create innovative real-life experiments in which workers become agents of green and just transitions.

Not only will this enhance the viability of transitions technically it will also strengthen workers’ motivation to become part of the transition.

Within the framework of participative action research, we will develop three methods which will support workers to create an alternative plan for their work process which will be environmentally sound and socially just. 1. Envisioning a green and just future and how to achieve it through backcasting and imagine. 2.

Research-based learning where workers investigate their position within the global value chain and the environmental impacts of their own and the workplaces along the chain. 3.

Participatory planning and design where workers from Sweden and Spain, supported by technicians, engineers, and researchers from a range of disciplines will create a real-life plan for the green and just transitioning of their work process.The project will develop a toolbox for research-based learning and participatory planning which, together with the findings of the project and a roadmap for their adaptation in different contexts will be made available in a massive open online course (MOOC) which can be attended for free by anybody world-wide.

Publications in academic and popular media, uploaded videos on you-tube and vimeo will form part of dissemination to enable a broad usage of the project´s findings.