A Framework for Just Transitions in the Global South

The urgency of transitioning towards sustainable developmental pathways is heightened by the intensifying effects of climate change and the persistent unmet needs of the Global South. While the concept of "Just Transition" originated in the Global North, primarily focused on energy transitions, its global application reveals significant challenges, particularly when addressing the complexities of development in Southern contexts. This paper explores the specific barriers to achieving just transitions in the Global South, where sustainable development must align with ongoing global inequalities and climate vulnerabilities. Using case studies from India, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago, this research proposes a comprehensive framework for mapping purposeful transitions toward sustainable development. These countries, diverse in geography, size, and carbon footprints, present unique yet interconnected challenges. The framework is grounded in a comparative analysis of how just transition discourses have been shaped, negotiated, or transplanted in these nations. It identifies where they act as discourse-shapers or discourse-takers in aligning just transitions with their national development priorities. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative case study analysis, incorporating document review, policy analysis, and interviews with key stakeholders involved in energy transition and development policy. The findings highlight the need to reframe just transition to account for developmental imperatives in the Global South, including equity, job creation, and environmental sustainability. The proposed framework can guide philanthropic actors and policymakers in identifying critical intervention points to support more holistic, context-specific activities that integrate climate and sustainable development objectives. By addressing the particular needs of countries in the Global South, this approach offers a pathway to align global climate goals with local development realities, ensuring a more equitable and effective transition.