A Just Green Transition in rural areas: local benefits from value creation

Rural areas can play a very important role in the green transition as far the majority of natural resources are located here.

There may, however, be a real risk that the rural areas end up working merely as instruments to national and international agendas and as engines for the urban areas without any real local benefits for the rural communities and rural populations. So, how to make green transition just for all parties?

The main objective of this research project is to examine a just green transition in rural areas in the
Nordic region and explore measures on how local value creation can be ensured from the green
transition in the rural communities. Focus rests on two interrelated pillars:

• Energy transitions and related land use planning and measures to rurally proof them,
• Value created out of these transition efforts for the benefit of rural areas.

A literature review will outline key concepts and working definitions, and a Discussion paper will be published in spring 2022.

Nordic policy priorities and challenges are compiled in a Policy Overview and Policy Brief in the summer of 2022.

Place-based examples of just and/or unjust transitions will be explored in case studies around the Nordics during the summer and fall of 2022.

The results will be discussed in workshops and partnerships for green transition will be supported by experts and compiled in report and disseminated during winter of 2022-2023.

This project is part of the Nordic collaboration and the Thematic group: Green and Inclusive Rural Development in the Nordics (2021-2024).