Just Transition in Brazil: Pathways and Discourse from Civil Society

The concept of a just transition originated within the US trade union movement and has since been recognized by international institutions and incorporated as a guiding principle for sustainability agendas and policies. However, it remains an ambiguous concept, shaped by conflicting perspectives that aim to balance ecological crises, social justice, and workers' rights, often resulting in contradictory policies. These policies are enacted within a global context characterized by inequalities between the Global North and the South, which influence different sustainability interpretations and produce uneven political impacts. Recent environmental justice research has focused limited attention on the Global South and has revealed tensions between economic development and ecosystem conservation, as in Brazil. The country is currently updating its climate policies through the 2024–2035 Climate Plan, which seeks to adopt an integrated approach covering mitigation, adaptation, Just Transition, and Climate Justice. Additionally, Brazil hosted COP 30 in Belém last year, which motivated civil society mobilization. In this regard, Aurora Lab, a Brazilian NGO, spearheaded a campaign that spanned 9 states, engaging with communities, trade unions, and women’s groups to gather proposals on just transition issues for presentation at COP 30. The research examines Aurora Lab’s discourse and practices, drawing on workshops conducted before COP 30 and applying a qualitative methodology and a critical theoretical approach grounded in political ecology, environmental justice, and decolonial studies. Early findings reveal strong demand for new policy instruments to advance transition justice, particularly regarding labor rights. These demands remain a highly conflictual political issue in Brazil.