Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions
This study explores the complexities of Germany’s energy transition, focusing on coal workers and their unions. Drawing from labor geography, the article examines how workers navigate the challenges of the coal phase-out. Despite strong union representation, co-determination rights, and negotiated e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Energy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/adaec2 |
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| _version_ | 1832541083842641920 |
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| author | Nicole Kleinheisterkamp-González |
| author_facet | Nicole Kleinheisterkamp-González |
| author_sort | Nicole Kleinheisterkamp-González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the complexities of Germany’s energy transition, focusing on coal workers and their unions. Drawing from labor geography, the article examines how workers navigate the challenges of the coal phase-out. Despite strong union representation, co-determination rights, and negotiated economic provisions, coal workers express significant concerns about industry restructuring. These concerns are categorized into two main areas: personal futures and the broader societal impacts of the transition. Workers fear deindustrialization, social decline, and an exacerbation of austerity effects, leading to a prevalent rejection of Germany’s green transition. Additionally, a rightward political shift has been observed, which is linked to fears of social decline. This study highlights the importance of considering these factors in policy discussions, advocating for a just transition that addresses both the immediate material anxieties and the broader societal impacts experienced by workers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d263a0a802b4cd7810bcbe9e30f74ed |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2753-3751 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d263a0a802b4cd7810bcbe9e30f74ed2025-02-04T10:25:11ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Energy2753-37512025-01-012101500510.1088/2753-3751/adaec2Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisionsNicole Kleinheisterkamp-González0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9262-546XGeography and the Environment Department, Syracuse University , Syracuse, NY, United States of AmericaThis study explores the complexities of Germany’s energy transition, focusing on coal workers and their unions. Drawing from labor geography, the article examines how workers navigate the challenges of the coal phase-out. Despite strong union representation, co-determination rights, and negotiated economic provisions, coal workers express significant concerns about industry restructuring. These concerns are categorized into two main areas: personal futures and the broader societal impacts of the transition. Workers fear deindustrialization, social decline, and an exacerbation of austerity effects, leading to a prevalent rejection of Germany’s green transition. Additionally, a rightward political shift has been observed, which is linked to fears of social decline. This study highlights the importance of considering these factors in policy discussions, advocating for a just transition that addresses both the immediate material anxieties and the broader societal impacts experienced by workers.https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/adaec2labor geographygreen transitioncoal transitionsworker |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Kleinheisterkamp-González Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions Environmental Research: Energy labor geography green transition coal transitions worker |
| title | Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions |
| title_full | Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions |
| title_fullStr | Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions |
| title_short | Agencies of transition: why German coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions |
| title_sort | agencies of transition why german coal workers are not accepting an energy transition despite social provisions |
| topic | labor geography green transition coal transitions worker |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/adaec2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicolekleinheisterkampgonzalez agenciesoftransitionwhygermancoalworkersarenotacceptinganenergytransitiondespitesocialprovisions |