JUST TRANSITION CENTRE

Global

The winner of WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award 2023 on the theme Inclusive Transition was The Just Transition Centre (JTC) is an international centre founded by the global trade union ITUC, and the centres co-directors Diana Junquera Curiel and Giulia Laganá.

The Just Transition Centre was founded with the aim of ensuring that workers are represented in the planning of the green transition. In a world where "Just Transition" discussions often remain abstract, the JTC stands as a beacon of concrete action.

Functioning as a global nexus of knowledge and collaboration, the JTC unites workers, unions, employers, and governments to ensure that the voices of labour are not just heard but actively involved in shaping the transition to a greener future. By facilitating processes where social justice and environmental sustainability are at the forefront, they contribute to a transition that considers both human well-being and the planetary boundaries.

From facilitating dialogue between stakeholders to securing funding for vital projects, the JTC operates at the forefront of global change, fostering unity and cooperation across borders. In regions like South Africa and Indonesia, their interventions have catalysed policy reform and empowered local communities to demand their rightful place in the transition process.

Even on a local scale, in cities like Los Angeles, the JTC's collaborative approach has yielded transformative results, bridging gaps between the environmental movement, unions, and policymakers to build a more resilient and equitable society.

For their exemplary ability to advance the cause of just transitions, empowering workers, and fostering collaboration towards a sustainable future, the Just Transition Centre was awarded the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award 2024.

Luc Triangle, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said, “This award is well-deserved recognition of the JTC ’s role as a hub for knowledge, collaboration and action working for a transformation towards greener economies with social justice. Social dialogue and union involvement are critical in shaping a just and sustainable future. The path to a greener planet will only be built by including the rights and contributions of workers.”

Diana Junquera and Giulia Laganà, the Co-Directors of the ITUC Just Transition Centre, said, “We are absolutely delighted that the JTC is receiving the 2024 WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award. It is an honour to join a cohort of trailblazing pioneers and leaders in the struggle for a sustainable future for people and planet. The JTC strives to ensure that workers, their unions and their communities are at the heart of efforts to transform our economies and societies to tackle the climate crisis. We are grateful for the WIN WIN Award’s recognition of this principle and for the support to the JTC’s work.”