A Just Transition

By Geoff Evans, Minerals Policy Institute

A Just Transition is how the Hunter can build a new economy from local skills and knowledge, with greater social equity. It protects the well-being of people and communities who are most vulnerable as we make a shift towards sustainability.

A Just Transition builds new partnerships from the bottom-up. It links communities, farmers, trade unions, businesses and governments to promote development that does not destroy. It shifts the debate from "Why change?" to "How can we change together?"

A Just Transition would guarantee:

new secure, long-term jobs for people working in industries that are currently being threatened or displaced by the coal industry;

new jobs in clean energy production, manufacturing, agriculture, services, tourism, arts and research to replace those being lost as the coal industry cuts its workforce;

investment in education and training to develop the skills needed for a new economy;

investment in infrastructure such as better health and public transport and expanded research and development so new, clean industries and skilled workers will be attracted to the Hunter;

investment in repairing the environmental damage caused by large-scale coal mining and poor rehabilitation;

investment in clean, decentralised energy technologies to replace the Hunter's coal-fired power - a mix of energy efficiency, wind, solar, with gas playing only a limited transitional role.

The Hunter has already demonstrated key elements of a Just Transition process, when the BHP steelworks closed. Hunter local governments are leading the way pioneering innovative urban energy demand management strategies. The CSIRO Energy Research Centre and the University of Newcastle are potentially world leading research centres in clean energy technologies.

A Just Transition needs investment. A levy of as little as 10 cents on every tonne of coal exported would raise $8-10 million each year, valuable 'seed funding' for new initiatives. The NSW Government should raise this levy to guarantee a Sustainable Hunter.

A Hunter Sustainable Future Fund, spent locally and managed by local people, could promote new opportunities and industries. It would put some of the wealth generated from the Hunter back into the region, and help us move from coal dependency to a clean and sustainable future.