Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and urban greening play a critical role in addressing climate change and supporting biodiversity. Despite the name, these initiatives are not only about ecosystems; when designed with a focus on justice, they can also promote empowerment, resilience, and equity.
Earlier this month, we gathered in Addis Ababa with practitioners from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and Namibia to explore these solutions in detail and highlight where and how Just Transitions can play a role in planning projects and policies.
Why do Just Transitions Matter in the Context of Nature-based Solutions?
Nature-based Solutions are often described as “win-win” opportunities for people and the planet, but this outcome is not guaranteed. Without centering justice, NbS risk reinforcing inequalities. Power imbalances, complex land tenure, funding mechanisms, and historical marginalisation all shape who benefits or is harmed by implementation.
During our time in Addis Ababa, we heard case studies from participants about projects that restored urban hillsides and rivers, but resulted in significant displacement of informal settlers. We also heard about initiatives that supported biodiversity conservation, but limited access to natural resources (such as firewood and wild game) and resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict.
As we explored these cases, we had fascinating conversations, including a deep dive into the nature of justice. For example, should those who are breaking the law (e.g., settling informally or hunting illegally) be considered equally when planning for the impacts of a transition? When exploring this question, participants discussed the root causes of illegal behavior, the real-world trade-offs policymakers must make when faced with limited financial resources, and the potential for Just Transitions to tackle lasting structural inequalities.
Alongside these challenges, participants also shared inspiring examples of how NbS can be designed with justice in mind to create lasting benefits and empower local communities. We learned about urban greening efforts that led to lasting employment, reforestation projects that diversified income streams, and traditional approaches to managing human-wildlife conflict in community nature conservancies.
Closing the Final 2% Gap
The workshop demonstrated that while NbS have often been planned to maximise positive socio-economic co-benefits, their potential negative impacts are rarely considered. Taking a Just Transition approach can help to bridge this gap.
One participant summarised this very well, saying that even if NbS can achieve benefits for 98% of people, Just Transitions are about “ensuring the final 2% are not overlooked or left behind.”
Moreover, while there are many Just Transition Frameworks and tools out there, our conversations with participants revealed that planning for Just Transitions can sometimes be as simple as integrating a few key questions into the decision-making process:
- What positive and negative impacts will the policy/project have?
- Who will be impacted?
- What can be done to manage these impacts?
- How do we ensure that everyone has a voice in the planning process?
We were lucky enough to explore some of these questions firsthand with some of the NbS practitioners coordinating Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative. Ethiopia’s annual tree-planting campaign took place during the week of the Masterclass, and participants and organisers had the opportunity to plant trees in the Gulele Botanical Gardens.
This “hands-on” approach is something we hope to continue in future iterations of the Masterclass. A core principle of the Masterclass is bridging the gap between theory and practice by identifying tangible ways that participants can integrate Just Transition principles into their day-to-day work. Memorable experiences like tree planting and other site visits are a valuable way to connect Just Transition principles to real-world policies. We are excited to see how we can integrate this approach in future iterations.
The Just Transition Planning Masterclass is co-led by CIF and Climate Strategies. The African Development Bank Group supported the delivery of workshops for the Masterclass Series and provided insights into financing Just Transitions.
Nicole is a Development and Programme Manager at Climate Strategies. Prior to working at Climate Strategies, she worked in sustainable agriculture in Rwanda. Nicole has an MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews, with a focus on reconciling tensions between social and ecological justice in transfrontier conservation projects in Southern Africa.